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After 3 and a half years, it’s time to reissue Ceschi & DJ Scientist’s “The One Man Band Broke Up” album, one of the best selling releases from our catalogue.

Only a handful of backstock issues of the first edition of the LP on white vinyl are still available and therefore we decided to repress 275 copies on black vinyl with the same artwork as well as the same printed inner sleeve and lyrics insert. However, to make the new issue as collectable as the first pressing, we additionally added an A3-sized special gloss print poster of Ceschi, photographed by Tim Mannle.

Furthermore, alongside the promotion of the album, and due to popular demand, a song called “Hello N.Y.” which was only released on a very limited vinyl postcard set will be made available for streaming on the release date of the LP reissue on January 3rd for about one week. This song has originally been written for the “The One Man Band Broke Up” album but then was replaced by the song “No New York”.

Like the first issue, the album is released in cooperation with Fake Four Inc..

Original press info from 2010:
New Haven songwriter/multi-instrumentalist/rapper Ceschi Ramos (pronounced chess-key) and Berlin producer DJ Scientist initially connected around 2005 over a mutual adoration of rare 60s/70s psychedelic, prog and folk rock as well as 90s hip hop. On their first record together, “The One Man Band Broke Up“, both gentlemen evoke their influences creating a completely original sounding, melodic, dark and unabashedly progressive hip hop concept album.

Based around the ever revisited topic of the rise and fall of a musician, in this case one named Julius and The Bearded Saviour, “The One Man Band Broke Up” is as much about Ceschi‘s own fear of failure as it is about personal experiences in a dog eat dog music industry. As Ceschi‘s voice moves from meticulous almost mathematical rhythms to aggressive nearly punk howling to scat like rhymes, Scientist layers epic montages of samples, dynamic drums, along with chopped live instruments to compliment the diversity of styles. The album even slides in two of Ceschi‘s acoustic based tunes complete with violins, banjos and ukuleles. Friends including Sole, Astronautalis, Radical Face (of Electric President), 2econd Class Citizen, Cars & Trains and MiC K!NG also contribute instrumentation and vocals. The combined outcome is a post-modern hip hop project unlike anything else the two musicians have previously released.

It’s been four years since Ceschi‘s last album “They Hate Francisco False” slowly but surely gathered a following around the world because of its honest and unique blend of left field hip hop and indie folk. During that recording hiatus Ceschi relentlessly toured the US, Canada, Europe and Japan with independent hip hop heroes such as Myka 9, Awol One, Sole and Onry Ozzborn all while starting his own successful record label, Fake Four Inc., and recording his latest album with Equinox Records‘ founder DJ Scientist.

However you take in this music – it is undeniable that “The One Man Band Broke Up” is a powerful new album coming from an indie hip hop world that has largely become stagnant and safe. This record isn’t afraid of its own intelligence, technicality and sincerity.

“Some of the best examples of alternative hip hop in recent years.”
Stereokill.net (4.5 of 5)

“The One Man Band Broke Up is one of the best conceptual hip hop records to drop in the past decade.”
URB Magazine

“A significant piece of art”
Okayplayer Magazine (89 of 100)

“Ceschi is a supremely talented MC who clearly has his finger on a fresh, new pulse of alternative hip-hop.”
ESM 8/10

“Ceschi’s new album is going to blow people away… it’s a refreshing hip-hop album with all the prog elements you’d expect from a meticulous vinyl collecting German (DJ Scientist) and some of the best hip-hop song writing i’ve heard in ages.”
Sole / soleone.org
“The Ceschi album is AMAZING. Holy shit!”
Buddy Peace / Strange Famous Records

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Counter Future is the third release in Equinox Records’ Sound Exposure compilation series, which debuted back in 2004. This album also marks the 50th release on the label and acts as the 10th anniversary compilation, making it a truly special and momentous affair.

“I wanted the selection to sound timeless yet still have a modern, futuristic vibe”, says label founder and compiler Günter Stöppel aka DJ Scientist. The first release in the Sound Exposure series, Welcome to the Neo Golden Age, defined the dual organic/electronic sound that the label has come to be known for. With this latest instalment of the series Scientist wants to set another important landmark for the label’s growing catalogue.

Counter Future is far from just a simple label sampler, composed almost entirely of exclusive tracks from the label’s roster and its extended, worldwide family. It is a coherent and unique album that showcases the broad spectrum and various facets of today’s electronic and beat scenes. Across 21 tracks from 17 different artists Counter Future is the most extensive and complete release on the label yet: you’ll find acclaimed French producer Fulgeance alongside long term Equinox artists such as 2econd Class Citizen and Deckard as well as close affiliates and friends including Los Angeles’ Dday One and Glen Porter. Each artist contribute their own unique musical mark to this anniversary release.

The compilation opens with the epic, film score-like introduction by producer and bassist Geste. It is followed by one of the label’s latest signings, Italy’s Godblesscomputers with his track Romania. Next is the turn of Greek producer Andreikelos and his Beautiful Mountain of Algos, a powerful downbeat and melodic composition. Germany’s Skyence contributes the haunting, neo space age electronica of Scars while Finest Ego Beat Championship winner Playpad Circus brings the splendid Megalomaniac. Fulgeance provides the epic Cypher with his trademark swing and bounce, Anthony Drawn teams up with Graciellita from L.A. on the stunning Lighthouse. 2econd Class Citizen then rediscovers his love for folk, hip-hop and uplifting but melancholic strings on I That I Am and Haunted Days & Witch’s Teat as well as Glen Porter provide their dose of instrumental hip-hop, uncompromising beats and guitar riffs which act as the perfect counter weight to the more electronic sounds on the album.

Counter Future is roughly divided into two parts with another Geste track, Exhale (Intermission), acting as the divider. Following this, come the vigorous Kill Ya Sound by L.A. producer Gone Beyond, Bit-Tuner’s bass heavy Getaway and Kopfklang’s Piet Mann 4, a very interesting composition from the upcoming Berlin producer. Next up, Deckard provides a stunning composition with St. Ella, while 2econd Class Citizen re-appears with another exclusive track, On Emptiness, originally released on his classic 2009 album A World Without. This new version reworks the original with added piano by Kevin Matthews. Underground L.A legend Dday One supplies Anechoic Chamber, J. Baracuz delivers Before The Storm, Andreikelos teams up with Bombers Of Consciousness and Kopfklang provides his second track Ave Mensch, a darker production that is followed by Canada’s David Vangel’s I Heard You Sing, the last track of the album. The song closes the compilation with beautiful choruses and vocals, accompanied with the kind of soulful drumming Vangel has made his trademark.

Despite its length Counter Future remains a cohesive listen and manages to once again showcase the amalgamation of sounds and styles that the label has become known and loved for. All of which makes it an essential album for fans of Equinox Records both old and new.

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Geste’s “P.I.N.N. Electronics” is a very special release on Equinox Records and is a part of the “Counter Future” series. The original track was composed in 2002 by an artist called Philip P.I.N.N. aka Philip Pinnulstre and has been released on a relatively unknown 7” release on the small sublabel of DJ Vadim’s Jazz Fudge Records called Electro Caramel.

While the A side of that single by Philip Pinnulstre featured a clubby Electro/Disco song, the mid-tempo B-Side, “P.I.N.N. Electronics”, has been a track that DJ Scientist, founder of Equinox, spun in many DJ Sets and radio shows at that time and which became one of his favourite tunes. It partly even influenced Scientist for the sound of the music he selected for the very first album release on Equinox, “Welcome to the Neo Golden Age”, which he started to compile in 2003.

A few years ago, Scientist researched the track further and also tried to get information from former Electro Caramel owners DJ Vadim and Simon Rose as he was willing to licence the track for a possible re-release on Equinox. He additionally wanted to get in touch with Philip Pinnulstre himself of which no other release exists except this obscure single. However, all of his ambitions failed to find out more about the artist – noone was able (or willing?) to share info about the song or artist. Scientist even dug out an original press release of the single where it stated very obscure facts about Philip being the son of Frederick Pinnulstre who was described as “once one of Austria’s top recording producers” and also stated that the A side tune of the single originally has been released in 1984 – a pretty obscure fact.

However, neither Google nor the extensive music database Discogs provide more info about father and son. So, most likely, the whole story was a funny invention by the label to create a certain interesting story about the release and Frederick & Philip Pinnulstre might just be pseudonyms for a well known producer that wants to remain unknown.

Anyhow, to cut the long story short, as this particular tune has been quite meaningful and important for DJ Scientist, he decided to ask Geste to reproduce the song for the 10 year anniversary release of Equinox. So the talented producer and bass player from France sat down, replayed every note, and created a yet unique cover version of the awesome track. With additional production and help by Andreikelos and Scientist himself, we proudly present the result: Geste’s “PINN Electronics” – a banging electronic composition with a Hip-Hop twist that captures the “organic / electronic” idea of the label to the fullest.

The track is released on a limited flexi disc that will be sold as a bonus item for the full length album. Some copies will be given away to magazines and fans via contests. The flexi comes with a download card that features additional remixes by Deckard, Kopfklang and Starflyer.

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The “Counter Future EP” is a preview for the compilation “Counter Future – A Sound Exposure Vol. 3”, which will be released in May 2013 on Equinox Records. The album marks the 50th release on the label and also acts as the 10th anniversary compilation. This preview EP introduces the project as a whole. The digital version of the EP includes 7 tracks, of which 6 are exclusive. The amazing “Scars” by Skyence will also be featured on the album, however the original extended full length version is included in this EP.

Vinyl EP 1/2 – Etching by CONE The Weird

Known to create special artwork packages and vinyl editions, Equinox decided to release the vinyl version of the EP in two separate parts, each of them a one sided 12” pressing with a lazer etching on the flip side. For this special project Equinox has hired two incredible guest artists for the artwork: CONE (The Weird), an amazingly talented illustrator, who already has done artworks for Melting Pot / MPM and other labels, provides the etching for the first EP, while Parisian designer and collagist Albane Simon (DYN), renowned for her countless covers in the indie rap world, provides the art for part 2.

Italian newcomer producer Godblesscomputers introduces the Counter Future series with the uplifting and impulsive “Chocolate”. Next up comes the previously mentioned “Scars” by Skyence, followed by “After Midnight” from the aspiring Russian beatmaker 813, who recently released music on labels such as Donky Pitch, 92 Points and Activia Benz.

Vinyl EP 2/2 – Etching by Albane Simon (DyN)

With “Running Circles”, the first track on part 2 of the EP, Rawbot offers a club friendly track. The song was recently released on his “Running Circles EP“ on Gold Digger Records but is exclusively made available on vinyl here. “Lunatic Dolphin” by Misanthrop is next with punching 808 drums, and leads over to “Crash” by Swiss beatmaker Bit-Tuner, who delivers a more minimalistic, yet deep production. Finally, Haunted Days & Witch’s Teat, a French production duo who won the last Equinox remix contest, end the EP with the more organic and deeper “Our Music Box” which satisfies the listener with intricate rhythms and excellent arrangement.

The “Counter Future EP” is the perfect teaser for the upcoming full length compilation. Unlike the album it is more orientated for the DJs with tunes like “Chocolate”, “Running Circles” and “After Midnight”. Both vinyl EPs, each strictly limited to 250 copies, as well as the combined digital single will be released end of April.

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“It sounds like wood, metal and microchip.” – that’s how Italian producer Lorenzo Nada a.k.a. Godblesscomputers describes his own music. With the follow up to his successful “Swanism” EP, released in early 2012, “Freedom Is O.K.” is his debut release on Equinox Records from Berlin and offers an amazing spectrum of organic electronic sounds and feelings.

The EP starts with the outstanding and soulful “Green Flowers” – a tune based on a vocal sample, underlined with glitches and smooth electric piano chords. “Nowhere”, the next track, keeps on the soulful vibe of “Green Flowers” with added melodies and a mellow, yet pushing, bass feel. “Fire Extinguisher” features the beautiful voice of Francesca Amati (the singer of the Italian band Amycanbe) while “Dirty Motel” brings back sampled soul bits. Next up, “The Plan” submits a nice dubby “under water” feeling and blends over to the remixes. With powerful reworks Error Broadcast’s B-Ju and the legendary Italian producer Digi G’Alessio add more bass flavour to the release. Both deliver 808 driven club tracks that should be welcomed by the DJs.

“Freedom Is O.K.” in its entirety is an amazing new release that showcases Godblesscomputers’ brilliant feel for composition and sounds. The combination of wood, metal and microchips probably has never sounded so good.

The EP is released on a limited vinyl 10inch as well as digital download in December 2012.

While the wonky-ish “Trailer’s Drop” works more like an introduction to the whole EP, “Sculpting Supernova” is where “Phantasma” really starts to get loose. Exteme edits are combined with a flipped vocal by Noah23 over an impeccable drumbeat which give it a slight dirty south flavour. A new level is reached with the next track: “Maria Parhuzam” – a pushing, straight techno style beat, which underpins multiple layers of sounds and melodies. This track will leave nobody untouched. Finally, “Drink And Fuck”, a song that can only be found on the digital version of the EP as it was just recently released on a 10inch split vinyl from our friends at Luana Records, represents anger and energy with a kind of punkish approach to it.

With “Phantasma” Playpad Circus enters the beatmaker scene with a completely inimitable style. Through the additional support from the colleagues at Project: Mooncircle and Finest Ego the EP should be another big step forward in Playpad Circus’ uprising career. The vinyl edition is released in early december as a limited 10inch and, as usual, includes a download card for all tracks.

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In 2011, J. Baracuz released his amazing “A Contemporary Witness EP” through our sublabel Equinox.Digital (eqxdgtl-005). This year, due to popular demand, we decided to put this out as a limited 12″ Vinyl on Equinox Records (see release eqx-044). In addition to the 4 original tracks we added some freshness with a couple of brandnew remixes. These remixes are partly included on the vinyl but we also decided to release it seperately as a 4-track remix EP entitled “A Contemporary Witness RMXS” as a free digital download.

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This new 4-track EP features “The Overture” in 3 versions, including the amazing Skyence Remix, the – almost forgotten – Green Trees Edit by Baracuz himself, as well as the remastered Original Version. Additionally, it includes “One Way Ticket“, gorgeously remixed by Russian beat wizard Damscray (formerly of Demokracy).

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The EP starts with the Skyence Remix of “The Overture“, where he provides a detailed and more glitchy version which takes the epic atmosphere of the original to another level. Next up, the Original Version juggles with string and piano samples while it is underlined by percussive and driving beats. On number 3, Damscray, who’s probably known best as one half of the producer duo Demokracy, remixes “One Way Ticket” into an almost tribal dubstepish tune that sounds like an Aborigines underground party. Finally, the “Green Trees Edit” of “The Overture” brings out an alternative perspective of the track and gives it an amazing refreshment which is no less than an equal to the original.

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Due to popular demand, we could not resist to press J. Baracuz‘ 2011 digital release “A Contemporary Witness” on vinyl. So here it is again – this time on black gold, as we all love it the most.

The six track EP successfully blends crackling samples and futuristic sounds with heavy drums and beautiful vocal bits, while focussing on modern sounddesign, delicate arrangements and complex song structures. Additional to J. Baracuz‘ four original tracks from the digital version, the 12″ comes with two awesome and brandnew remixes by Hamburg-based Skyence and Russian Damscray, who’s probably known best as one half of the producer duo Demokracy.

The opening track of the 12″, “The Overture”, juggles with string and piano samples while it is underlined by percussive and driving beats. The tune is as much “on point” as the impulsive second track “One Way Ticket”. Regardless of the moderate tempo, the song is straight forward, includes vocal shreds and synth sounds und even manages to switch over to a Sci Fi Dub part in the middle. The track is followed by “Everyone’s The Same” which impresses with it’s beautiful female vocal samples and a melancholic Soul Folk Electronica Vibe.

The flip-side starts with the remix by Skyence who has put hands on “The Overture“. With his detailed and more glitchy version he’s able to take the epic atmosphere of the original to another level. Next is the organic “Jazzy Conqueror“, the longest piece on the EP that was called a “Masterpiece” by French producer Fulgeance, one of our favourite beatmakers out there. Finally, Damscray leaves us behind with his version of “One Way Ticket“: An almost tribal dubstepish tune that sounds like an Aborigines underground party.

Parallel to the very limited vinyl release there will be a free download version of the remixes that includes “The Overture“, both remixes as well as an almost forgotten edit version.

About J. Baracuz

J. Baracuz is an electronic music producer/beatmaker from Berlin. His debut album “Lasergun Romances”, released in late 2006, has already given proof of his talents and his sense for complex sample-based compositions somewhere between instrumental hip-hop and electronica.

“Lasergun Romances” also was the reason Equinox Records got in touch with him and licensed a couple of his tracks to be released on the “One Year & A Day” series alongside artists such as Free The Robots, Deckard or Emynd.

J. Baracuz’ music can be described best as a progressive, interesting blend of shredded obscure samples, heavy mpc-soaked drums and modern synthetic sounds refined with some glitches here and there. The sampling approach behind all of his tracks is based on the idea of giving rise to not just beats but entire songs out of a “pile of broken dreams”.

After a creative break he spent with studying, travelling and digging for records, J. Baracuz has found his way home in 2011 and released his EP “A Contemporary Witness” on Equinox. Due to popular demand, the EP was re-released in 2012 on vinyl.

“The track “Jazzy Conqueror” is a masterpiece – rhythmically & the mood!! Nice!! It reminds me of the good years of Prefuse 73 & Forss! Addin it to my top 10 serato playlist!”Fulgeance / France (Musique Large / MPM)

“A seriously head nodding groove layered with samples and melodies just as we like it.”Rhythm Incursions

“I don’t know, maybe I’m in very good mood today, or maybe (quite possibly actually) A Contemporary Witness EP is one of the absolute best electronic releases I’ve heard in a long while.”Trippin’ The Rift

„That’s goood!”m.path.iq / We Are… On Air!

“There are big chances that we playlist the great “One Way Ticket” – but all the rest of the EP is dope too. Breaks, chops, groove, some well placed vocals, great themes and intensity explosions, what more could we ask for?”Turnsteak / France

“Did it come from the year 2021 where all the people dance and sing to these kind of songs? Sounds like this.”Demokracy / Russia

“This cut is sick as fuck! I can’t wait to hear the whole album.”DJ Jesus Face

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“For Better, For Worse” is the debut album by DJ Scientist, the founder and head of the Equinox Records label. The music on the album was produced between 2001 and 2006 and offers a unique, fully-sample based instrumental body of work that, even 6 years after its originally scheduled release date, has the power to spellbind and steer the listener into the widespread musical world of one of Germany’s most passionate record collectors and artist.

Some tracks of the album were ‘leaked’ early. In 2006 on the “Journey Goodbye EP” and in the form of the song ‘Raincoatman’ which appeared on the first Equinox Records compilation. These early releases raised excitement levels for the album and fans of Scientist’s unique approach. Unfortunately the album never materialised, partly due to the complexity of some of the songs, consisting of more than 50 layers. Moving from his hometown of Munich to Berlin in that period and coping with the increasing work the label was requiring of him as founder and manager also didn’t help. Scientist then decided to focus on his collaboration with American rapper and multi-instrumentalist Ceschi Ramos in 2007, sealing the album off for a few more years. On the collaboration Scientist proved his skills as a producer across four singles and EPs (featuring popular cuts such as ‘Same Old Love Song’ and ‘Bad Jokes’) and an album, “The One Man Band Broke Up”, released in 2010. The instrumental version of the album acted as Scientist’s official solo debut. Until now…

In 2012 Scientist began to revisit the body of work that made up “For Better, For Worse” and finalised the tracks from the vast archive of finished and unfinished songs. In April he released “The Artless Cuckoo EP” which featured additional tracks from the same early production period that makes up the bulk of the album. The EP introduced the album, catching the attention of fans who had been waiting for quite some time.

“For Better, For Worse” therefore picks up from where “Journey Goodbye” had ended and where “The Artless Cuckoo” had restarted. ‘Ball of Confusion’, the dark and minimalistic album opener, is a deep, psychedelic song based on crashing drums, grunting bass sounds and a suspense-laden build up. ‘World of Stone’ is an equally massive downtempo hip hop song with elements from fusion and jazz, and could already be found – in a slightly different version – on the 2006 EP. ‘The Death of Hip Hop’ is an homage to the old school, despite what its name may imply. ‘Is The Bronx in the house?’ yells the echoed voice at the start of the song. Rap connoisseur Scientist then answers with Krautrock guitars and rushing drums. It’s a furious track that harks back to classics such as RJD2’s ‘Let The Good Times Roll’ and DJ Shadow’s ‘Number Song’. ‘Raincoatman’ slows the tempo again, taking things down a notch and expressing feelings of melancholy and beauty without being corny. The album is completed by meticulously constructed songs such as ‘Nightdrive Memories’, the blues-y ‘Autumn Leaves’ and the epic rock jam ‘Anything About Nothing’, the latter helping to keep the tension up till the very end.

All the tracks on the album show the musical power that resides in the “instrumental hip hop” genre, for lack of a better word. Despite the time it took to make and release, or perhaps precisely because of it, the album defines Scientist’s talent and knowledge as a sample-based musician. Having invested years into the project it wasn’t just the aforementioned reasons which kept “For Better, For Worse” from being released. Scientist also had his doubts about it, saying “I felt like the sound was getting old and I didn’t feel like releasing it anymore.” These doubts may sound absurd upon listen. Even if the crashing drums and melancholic samples which mark the music have now often been replaced by glitches and Dilla-esque drums elsewhere, the music on the album still sounds like little else in hip hop today. The instrumental side of the genre has rarely been purer, more powerful or more uncompromising.

It’s with great pleasure that nearly 10 years after work on the music started Equinox Records finally gives spotlight to the man in the back. The album is part of the Unheard & Recovered series that will also feature another great unreleased album by label-mate Deckard. “For Better, For Worse” is released in late October 2012 on double vinyl and digital formats. Stop, and listen. For better, and for worse.

DJ FOOD (Ninja Tune): “(I’ve) been giving it a good few listens here and favourites are ‘The Death of Hip-Hop’, ‘Raincoatman’ and ‘Anything About Nothing’. Nice work – there’s plenty of layers to unravel.”

CRAYONBEATS.COM: “The perfect backdrop for a night-time cruise” (re: Nightdrive Memories)
BUDDY PEACE (Strange Famous): “Equinox has managed once again to rearrange and manipulate what we know as instrumental hip hop and drag it into line while marching it directly into the sunlight. DJ Scientist has created an album that amplifies moods, finesses instrumentation and somehow achieves subtlety while being utterly banging. A rare treat for the forward thinking beat-head.”

DJ FORMAT: “Great moody soundscapes and raw heavy drums are the perfect formula from this Scientist!”

SNEAKY (Fingathing): “One for the Headphones! Refreshing to hear such an organic flow in the current digital fever.”

DDAY ONE (Content Label / Project: Mooncircle): “In this age of mass communication it’s definitely “for Better” DJ Scientist is releasing this project to the world. It would only be “For Worse” if this timeless collection remanded hidden.”

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Just a few months after the release of his successful debut double LP “For A Better Tomorrow” and his singles “Andromeda” and “Günesim”, Deckard is ready for the next strike. “Echoes From The Past” is an unreleased album that was produced during the years 2000 to 2005 and is finally ready to drop in September this year.

After some dusting off, polishing and re-mastering, the 9 tracks sound as contemporary and fresh as back then. Deckard himself calls it “Instrumentals out of a time when beats where still beats” – classically arranged drums, assembled with futuristic sound elements – already making up the classic dark sound that Deckard is now known for.

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The travel into time past starts with “A Black Hole (Part 2)”, a deep and hauling tune, that, as the name promises, might be able to absorb you entirely. The following track, “Defunked”, is a more club friendly but equally deep song that hasn’t lost any of its freshness over the years. Next up, „Haunted Beats“ and the title track „Echoes From The Past“ are more classical, “triphoppy” and dark, reminiscent of some of the early heroes of the genre such as Krush, Spooky or DJ Cam.

Listening to the following tracks, it shows how far Deckard’s production and arranging skills were already advanced at that time: The grooving “Endzeit” paints images of gloomy machine halls in the year 2050, “Gedankenjäger”, German for “mind hunter”, is hypnotic but yet pushing, “Shadows” saws into your ear canals with distorted bass sounds, while “Slow Body Movement” offers a few more soulful and jazzy shades and concludes the album to full satisfaction.

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„Echoes From The Past“ includes 9 tracks, while a bonus track is offered for the vinyl buyers. The limited LP release additionally is sold as a bundle package that even contains a second unreleased album from Deckard’s vast archive entitled “Underground und Subkultur”.

„Echoes From The Past“ is released as part of a two-piece “Unheard & Recovered” series on Equinox Records. Part 2 of the series will be the unreleased solo full length by DJ Scientist, an equally deep and meticulously produced album with great unheard material from his archives.

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6 years ago, Misanthrop & Aqua Luminus III. released the “Leinwand EP” on Audiac Records (an early subdivision of Equinox Records) as a 10inch picture disc. With their new collaborative offering, under the self-explanatory title “6 Years Later EP”, the two producers combine once again.

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The formula for their music has stayed the same: heavy beats, alongside raw cuts and samples blended together to create another banging electronic Hip-Hop release. However, it also offers some surprising new sounds as well as astonishing guest features: Underground hip hop legend 2Mex (Visionaries, SonGodSons), Fake Four’s very own Ceschi and UK rapper James P Honey provide superb lyrics and flows on “20 Stories Later”, the only non-instrumental track on the release. Additionally, the German turntablism legend DJ Stylewarz is cutting on “The 1 Billion Euro Song” alongside Munich’s DJ icon Al Rock. Another skillful and mightily talented turntablist, SNTC, provides the scratching on “57 Bars Ahead“.

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The “6 Years Later EP” features six tracks as well as two bonus tracks on the digital release. A definite sureshot in every record collection, refined with a fresh cover provided by The Raincoatman, the EP is released on July 20 as a limited edition 10inch.

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Following his earlier single release “(Call For) The Last Stand”, which was his debut on Equinox in 2010, as well as his remix release for Ceschi Ramos’ “Black And White And Red All Over”, the “Euryphaessa EP” is a new great musical perspective on Andreikelos’ vast talents.

A well known producer and engineer in Greece, Andreikelos may still be the best kept secret from the global Leftfield Electronica genre. Having created his own style with his significant drum pattern and synthesizers use this EP is adventurous as it is deep.

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Limited 12″ edition of 100 hand stamped and numbered copies

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The title track, “Euryphaessa”, stands at the barrier between instrumental alt-rock and moody electronica. Named after the ancient Greek Titan-Goddess, Theia Euryphaessa, it is a perfect blend of heavy drum patterns, crunchy beats and distorted synth lines.

Second comes “Under Pressure”, this instrumental hip-hop track is a hybrid of synths and samples enhanced by a heavy drumbeat blended with rock-ish cymbals and beautiful violin sounds for the finale.

The following track, “Deserted”, is dark and cinematic. A blend of acoustic and electronic instruments alongside heavy drum sounds, creating a deeply emotional and atmospheric track that grabs the listener right from the word go. The whole arrangement of these sounds is so elegantly put, that it continuously drags the listener’s emotions from left to right, dark to light and back again, making this perfect soundtrack music.

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The final track is a remix of “Euryphaessa” by Greek producer Starflyer. His version enhances the electronic nature of the original with orchestral textures, smoothly blended onto a down-tempo beat pattern making this trip-like tune a perfect catalyst to fuel the overall sound.

Additionally, on the digital version of the release you can find another remix of the title track by Geste from France – a more experimental take on the track, a neo-psych approach that pulls the listener’s attentioninto the unique sound of Geste.

Andreikelos has probably outdone himself with this EP. The music is deep, building, dark yet melancholic and profoundly beautiful.

Being Part 3 in the “Black On Black” vinyl series the “Euryphaesse EP” is released as a very limited (100 hand numbered copies) vinyl 12” alongside a poster. Furthermore, 25 cassettes will be given away to the first customers that buy directly from the Equinox Online Store. They include 3 tracks of the EP mixed together in two 10 minute sets plus an exclusive bonus track called “Sawlead Rock”.

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It has been a long time coming as they say and now the second full length album from UK producer 2econd Class Citizen is ready for release. Having spent the past year collaborating with and remixing DJ Food, touring Europe with US artist cars&trains and remixing artists such as Loka and Dday One, 2econd Class Citizen also managed to fit in some studio time and is back with his signature sound on “The Small Minority“, his follow-up to 2009′s lauded “A World Without“.

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Poised to disarm and conquer, “The Small Minority” is 50 minutes of pure aural delight: meticulously constructed drums, sublime mineral sonorities and cinematic moods immerse the listener in a huge pallet of sounds, rhythms and samples that create contrasted atmospheres, both cold and luminous. While standout tracks like the gripping “Stop To Wonder”, the intense string laden, slow builder “Change (What We’re Creating)” and the downtempo harmonies of “Outside Your Doorway” will keep heads nodding and should be favourites among the fans, 2CC also adds some beautiful folk ambient sounds to his opus such as the hypnotising choral “Metamorphosis” and the warming textures of “Inside The Cocoon”. At the same time, 2econd Class Citizen manages to fit in the uptempo and funky “Liberated Lady” and a pushing psych rock tune “Stay With Me” that should satisfy the djs as well.

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An alumnus of Ninja Tune’s iconic Solid Steel series, 2econd Class Citizen caught the ears of DJ Food’s Strictly Kev and last year the two worked together on the 9 track musical collage “Magpie Music” which was released as part of Food’s EP “Magpies, Maps & Moons” and also included in the following album “The Search Engine”.

“The Small Minority” is preceded by a single release, “Outside Your Doorway”, featuring vocalists and remixers such as L.A’s underground pioneer Dday One, Strange Famous‘ Buddy Peace – the nicest DJ you never knew about – and James Reindeer that neatly showcases 2econd Class Citizen‘s broad appeal, his cross-genre mastery and ever-widening audience.

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The album is slated for a May release on Berlin-based Equinox Records with the US release handled by the new indie hip-hop powerhouse Fake Four. A promo megamix will also be unveiled ahead of the release in late April, handled by none other than one of the best in this field: DJ Food’s Strictly Kev.

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About 2econd Class Citizen

Since his self-released debut EP, Divided Reality, caught the attention of some well-respected industry ears, 2econd Class Citizen has been keeping listeners spellbound with his unique psych/folk/hip-hop fusion. Snapped up by Equinox Records, his seamless hybridising bore two further EPs – Wyred Folk, One By One – and 2009’s sublime inaugural album, A World Without. Now on the cusp of his second album release, Aaron Thomason – aka 2econd Class Citizen – is poised to further beguile you with his beat-laden, ethereal sounds.

Raised in England’s rural north, this now London-based DJ and producer has captivated audiences and peers alike with his gorgeously-captured, audible emotions, most notable of which are the ears of DJ Food’s Strictly Kev, with whom he worked last year on the collaborative 9-track musical collage Magpie Music, released on the Ninja Tune artist’s latest output, both EP Magpies, Maps and Moons and album The Search Engine. To celebrate this anticipated album, 2econd Class Citizen contributed a bespoke space themed DJ set for the launch party held at London’s Royal Observatory Planetarium; a unique experience created in conjunction with the beloved venue’s own astronomers (stay tuned for the set on the Solid Steel radio show.) On top of this, he’s found time to accommodate another two Ninja Tune releases in the shape of remixes of The Electric Hoax (feat. Natural Self) and Loka’s The Sound Stars Make.

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Inspired by the folk-drenched mysticism of the rural past and a fortunately-timed intake of DMC competitions on MTV, 2econd Class Citizen has graced the stages of some of the best-known festivals, including two consecutive years at Glastonbury in 2008 and 2009. And having so far completed three European tours with fellow artists such as Ceschi Ramos, Noah23 and Buddy Peace, not to mention enviable stage-sharing with the likes of Nosaj Thing, The Hidden Orchestra, Loka, Dosh, and even prog rock legends Gong and Steve Hillage, has delighted crowds across multiple European concert venues.

With the vocalists, remixers and musicians present on his much-anticipated upcoming album, as well as the advance single releases, he is winning an ever-widening audience with his cross-generic audio mastery. As consistent as his sound is innate, his goosebump-inducing compositions have garnered a loyal and evolving fanbase and high praise from a tough-to-win industry. But hunted library samples and shattering strings are only part of what makes this artist’s enchanting appeal; this aural embodiment filtered through Thomason’s old soul perception construct a bewitching almost-world of near-forgotten mystical past and disaffected present.

With his second album, The Small Minority, set to hold familiar ears as much as it will convert anew, 2econd Class Citizen’s meticulously-crafted sonic conjuring will ensure this remains the music you will lose your heart to.

The album is released in the US and Japan in cooperation with Fake Four Inc.
Distributed in Europe and worldwide via Kudos Distribution (UK).

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Early Feedback (to be continued…):

“Really lovely moments on here. Nice…”Fink (Ninja Tune)

“Your Album sounds great, congratulations! I definitely want to check out your record collection as you obviously had some crazy stuff!”DJ Format

“okay man, I gotta tell you: your album is fucking BEAUTIFUL. I’m in love with it already. So lush! I’m about 2/3 in but I just thought I’d ‘live text’ it! Incredible work brother.“

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After a super limited postcard vinyl set which literally sold out within 5 minutes, the “Outside Your Doorway EP” is the second teaser for the outstanding new 2econd Class Citizen album “The Small Minority”. The vinyl 12” and digital release feature exclusive remixes by Dday One and Buddy Peace, a bonus track together with long time collaborator James Reindeer as well as two of the main album tracks.

The title track, “Outside Your Doorway”, is 2econd Class Citizen at his best with his trademark fusion of Folk and Hip Hop replete with chopped vocals, crispy drums and all manor of sounds and textures designed to get your head nodding instantly. Next up, “Liberated Lady”, another superb catchy vocal track with a more uptempo and funky feel, carries all the hallmarks of a 2CC production and could become a dj’s favourite in the clubs.

Dday One’s remix of “Outside Your Doorway” is an extensive musical journey accompanied by crashing lo fi drum breaks and aching strings. Again, listening to this will get your head nodding without even realising. Then, Strange Famous’ Buddy Peace takes “Liberated Lady” and flips it like only he knows how. Adding new vocals and chops to create a whole new beast of a track.

“Insect Forms” is an alternate and extended vocal version of “Identity”, a track which was featured solely on the aforementioned postcard package. 2econd Class Citizen, rapper James Reindeer and violinist Jenny Blackbird come together once again for a stunning deep and cinematic track.

The “Outside Your Doorway EP” is released in Mid April, while the complete album, “The Small Minority”, will drop in late May on Equinox Records, with the US release handled by the new Indie Hip-Hop powerhouse Fake Four. Need we say more?

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After the successful release of Deckard’s astonishing debut album “For A Better Tomorrow” as well as the “Andromeda” single in December/January we present the third and final strike: “Günesim”, now with brand new versions, is the second single which should have listeners spellbound to the addicting track that features the Turkish singer Deniz Cagli.

Picture by Marie Chatard

The song “Günesim”, originally performed by the famous German-Turkish actor Idil Üner, was featured in the German movie “Im Juli” (In July) by Fatih Akin and is now translated into the present with the contemporary beats on Deckard’s single.

Deniz Cagli

The release heads off with a remix by one of Germany’s biggest newcomer talents, Anthony Drawn, who recently released his new album on Sichtexot Records and has been featured on compilations such as Project Mooncircle’s Finest Ego sampler. His remix, a deep electronica tune with a dubsteppish vibe, convinces with thrilling drums and a great arrangement, providing the perfect background for the beautiful vocals.

The remix is followed by a shortened edit of Deckard’s classic original version that should appeal to the radio djs while the 3rd track, an extended alternate take, adds a more robotic twist to the soulful voice. The single then continues with another exclusive tune by Deckard himself called “Near Dawn” and is concluded with instrumental and acapella versions of “Günesim”.

Anthony Drawn

To continue with the “Black On Black” vinyl series, “Günesim” is, alongside the extended digital EP, released as a nice limited 7” single. Both, vinyl and digital versions as well as the video for the original version of “Günesim” that is already turning heads on Youtube and tape.tv, should give this amazing track a new push and the publicity that it deserves.

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2econd Class Citizen is back in full effect and will release his 2nd album in early May this year. To head off the promotion and campaign for his outstanding new full length release we have a really special treat for you:

“Perception / Identity”, the second postcard package on our label, includes two beautiful vinyl postcards designed by the Amerian illustrator toobz and features two great new exclusive songs by 2econd Class Citizen, which will give you a preview into what you can expect to hear on his album “The Small Minority”.

The cards will be available for sale on the Equinox Online Store on friday, February 24th, and are limited to 25 hand numbered copies. Don’t hesitate to buy one of these as long as you can – they are unique and special and a perfect addition to your record collection!

Also, here is more info about toobz, who has provided the art for this release:

At an early age, Scott TOOBZ Noel began his creative lifestyle with observation and utilizing everything around him into something useful. Learning that he was colorblind initially molded his intimidation of color as he chose to stick with limited amounts. Through training and progression, his color limitations no longer created a disadvantage. In the early 80’s he was influenced by the graffiti culture. With ruleless abstract lettering and wildstyle expression, he explored this much needed outlet. Since this discovery, he has delved into new mediums, colors, and taking all that lies in the art world and incorporating inspiration to help learn himself and others.

Having no formal art education, Toobz started early in life teaching himself that all things have a similar process. By applying this rule, there is nothing that his hands would not try. He did not start his serious journey with visual arts until his mid twenties. Since then it has been a push and pull of understanding how these processes weave their similarities into different mediums. The debate of school and the money that it required led Toobz to self teaching. Although it has been a long road, he has taught himself the patience of finding the meaning of self expression and waking to everything around and inside the passion of this drive.

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DJ Scientist has made a name for himself as one of the most reputable producers and DJs out of Germany by continuously releasing music for over more than a decade. He is mainly known for his works with US rapper and singer Ceschi Ramos, whose last album, completely produced by Scientist, “The One Man Band Broke Up” was a huge success in the indie hip hop scene. Together with Ceschi he also released the singles and EPs “Count On It / Bad Jokes”, “Shorted Circuits”, the limited collector’s item “Postcard Package”, as well as the underground Hip-Hop hit single “Same Old Love Song” that additionally featured the legendary west coast emcees 2Mex & Awol One, backed with another stunning track with Myka Nine of Freestyle Fellowship.

However, rappers aside, Scientist originally started his producer career strictly with instrumental music and “The Artless Cuckoo EP” is the first official solo release by Scientist since his “Journey Goodbye EP” in 2006 (apart from the 2010 “debut” album “The One Man Band Instrumentals”, which includes all the beats of the aforementioned album with Ceschi).

The new EP features 4 unreleased songs as well as 2 skits from Scientist’s productive and innovative 2002-2006 era, whereas an early version of the track “White Coffee” even dates back to 2001 and was one of his first songs ever. Listening to the music now, the tracks are quite remarkable as, at that time, probably noone else was heavily blending and fusing Hip-Hop with Krautrock, Psychedelic Rock and Folk like Scientist. Has this even been the invention of “Kraut Hop”?

Genre discussions aside, “The Artless Cuckoo” mainly reflects the dark and gloomy musical side of DJ Scientist’s taste in music – some of the tracks probably never came out as they were considered “too strange to release” by Scientist himself. In most cases though, due to his involvement in countless other projects, the main reason for these tunes to never see the light of day was that they had never been finished until Scientist dug them recently:

“I continued to work on these old tracks because a label asked me to do a mix with psychedelic music for their podcast series for which I had planned to incorporate a few unreleased songs from my archive. However, after a bit of digging on my hard drives, I had all these nice tracks in my hands. In most cases it just needed a day or two to finish them so I thought about putting them all together and create an EP rather than just adding them to a mix.”

Although consisting of older productions, “The Artless Cuckoo” is a refreshing alternative to the more electronic wave of Instrumental Hip-Hop that has been floating around recently. Furthermore, the EP can be seen as a teaser for his first official, yet unreleased, debut album, that was also produced between 2002 and 2006, which should be finally released later this year.

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Deckard took his time – after 3 successful EPs, numerous sampler contributions and remixes, the well respected producer from Munich releases his long awaited first full length album “For A Better Tomorrow”.

At a running time of 53 minutes, 12 songs are seamlessly and tightly packed resulting in a compact album that keeps a continuous arc of suspense. Furthermore, Deckard is able to give his album a timeless touch. “For A Better Tomorrow” sounds contemporary and mature – like a gloomy yet prudent version of the future. While, at the same time, the partly sample-based titles and spoken word bits are traces into the past. With the album Deckard aka Attila Makai proves once again that he is an exceptionally talented musician, who is able to stand in the top ranks of producers on an international level.

“For A Better Tomorrow” should be experienced as a whole but there are a few songs that need to be mentioned solely:
“Noir Desire (Part 2)“ is the only track of the album which was released previously on one of Deckard’s EPs (Future World, 2009). Like no other song on the album it defines his trademark sound: deep, grumbling bass lines, long-drawn-out pads, combined with monotonous, trippy drums.
“Günesim“ – the only non-instrumental track on the album – features the beautiful female voice of the Turkish singer Deniz Cagli. It is a cover version of a song that became popular in the mainstream as being featured in the German movie “Im Juli” (In July) by Fatih Akin where it is performed by the famous German-Turkish actor Idil Üner. Deckard’s version translates the folky track into the present with a dubsteppish tempo. The instrumental sneaks along in deep manner and works as a perfect background for the vocals.
Next, “Andromeda”, which will released as a limited vinyl 12“ with remixes by Bit-Tuner and the Russian producer team Demokracy in late November, is special in its own way. It’s a Sci-Fi Reggae Dub Downbeat track, that has no equals. It will be a delightful track for beat fanatics as well as Dub connoisseurs worldwide.
On further tracks like “The Dawn“ Makai proves his versatility and demonstrates that his music is not only compatible for home listening but additionally should work for DJ use as well. “Leaving”, one of the older tracks on the release, moves forward with a driving beat and bridges to the last third of the album that turns out to be a bit more experimental.

Deckard’s “For A Better Tomorrow“ is an astonishing debut where Makai delves into every song with abandonment and sensitivity which helps him to master his technique like few others. The fate of this album remaining as a timeless classic should be up to the listeners. But it will definitely be an album, that they will return to in order to lose oneself in his soundscapes again – whether it’s after the first hearing, after a couple of days or even after a year.

„For A Better Tomorrow“ is dedicated to Makai’s pregnant defacto partner – let’s hope for a successful “debut” here as well. The album will be released late december / early January on the German Electronica label Equinox Records on double vinyl and digitally.

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“Andromeda” is the first single for the upcoming debut album by Deckard entitled “For A Better Tomorrow“.

The release heads off with the original version of “Andromeda“, an incredibly well produced downbeat/electronica tune with a new twist that blends into a grooving sci fi dub/reggae part, refined with a catchy flute sample. Even though there is a dark mood in almost all of Deckard’s music this great track should put a smile on everyone’s face.

Limited 12″ edition of 111 hand stamped and numbered copies

Bit-Tuner, the legendary producer from Switzerland, is first to remix the tune. The result is a completely new sounding, heavyweight and club friendly electro track that impresses us with interesting changes, thrilling drums and deep synth sounds. This definitely should be any dj’s favourite!

Next up are Demokracy from Russia. The producer team recently won the Equinox remix competition for the French artist Geste and already released projects and tracks via the labels Robox-Neotech, Error Broadcast, Project: Mooncircle and Svetlana Industries. Now they are proving their skills with a kind of abstract version of “Andromeda” that switches from 5/4 to 3/4 rhythms, but, in some way, can still make your head nod! The track then develops into a beautiful clockwork sample that catches up with Deckard’s reggae vibe and completely blew our minds because of its unexpected approach towards the song.

Bonus Tape that comes with the first 25 copies of the 12″ edition

Last but not least, Rowpieces of the Soul Bros. collective from Munich provides a pushing, yet mellow drum & bass version of the album track “The Dawn” that should work on the dancefloor but also should sound well in your headphones.

Additionally, on the digital version of this limited vinyl single you can find an alternative mix of “The Dawn” by Deckard himself which adds even more flavour to the whole EP.

The complete “Andromeda” single is packed with great music and should be a nice teaser for the long awaited debut release, due out in late December via Equinox Records.

Complete 12″/Tape edition with Download Card.

The vinyl 12″ is limited to 111 hand numbered copies and introduces the Equinox “Black On Black” vinyl series which provides limited 12″s without artwork to pay homage to underground vinyl club culture and keep it alive. Furthermore, 25 cassettes will be given away as a bonus to the first customers that by directly on the Equinox Online Store.
﻿Deckard – Andromeda (eqx-032) by Equinox Records

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“Re-Think Concrete” is the remix project for Geste’s track “Eating Concrete” from his successful EP released on Equinox Records earlier this year.

The remixes, or “re-thinks” as we called them, feature new versions by the Russian producer duo Demokracy that collaborated with Didjerlirium on the vocals, the French production teams Turnsteak and Signal², as well as Audhentik from Germany.

Digital Cover

Demokracy really surprised us with dope vocal additions by Didjelirium that weren’t featured in the original track. A sensitive approach we all fell in love with, not only remixing but also extending the original track’s atmosphere. “Eating concrete is the sole remedy for those suffering from a deadly allergy to softness“. Damn sure!

Next, the Turnsteak remix stands out with nice glitched out sounds and overall fatness. Smashing the dancefloor, with a unique smart-ass attitude.

Then, Audhentik’s re-think is a banging and more aggressive dubstep tune. So much anger it will nail you down to the ground!

To coincide with the digital release an ultra limited 7” vinyl release was pressed that includes the remixes by Demokracy and Turnsteak. The 100 (!) hand numbered copies, featuring a nice simple different cover and include a download card for all remixes, should be sold out hella soon! So be quick!

On Hello Cruel World, Sole aka Tim Holland returns with the Skyrider Band for his first full length since the split with Anticon, and his third album with the Skyrider Band. While much was made of Sole leaving the Anticon empire he helped create, there’s a refreshing, new found confidence and focus not seen since his now-classic albums Selling Live Water and Bottle of Humans. On Hello Cruel World sees Sole has assembled an army of the most exciting voices in indie culture to be apart of the new record, recruiting everyone from Lil B THEBASEDGOD, Xiu Xiu, Pictureplane, Sage Francis, Ceschi, and more, to create a pretty stunning tapestry that is a new high water mark in Sole’s creative output.

Perhaps even more interesting, listeners will notice that Sole has adopted the most deliberate flow of his career–abandoning the freewheeling, hyper-timed assaults of his earlier work in favor of a biting clarity and all around accessibility. The record draws on the wealth of his newly found freedom, tapping into the positivity and ethics of a DIY tradition he has always known and embraced throughout his career – transforming his past cynicism into a call to arms and personal empowerment. The Skyrider Band itself has been similarly transformed; trading in their dense soundscapes and organic touchstones for an impeccable attention to detail and more studio-centric productions.

On Sole and the Skyrider Band’s last record, Plastique, Sole claimed, “I’ve been digging my grave since age 15.” Since then, he’s been hard at work converting his grave into trenches that span from California to Barcelona, and the bottom of the ocean to the moon. Hello Cruel World occupies these trenches, steadfastly refusing to be flushed into a niche.

The album drops July 19th on CD, vinyl, and digital in co-operation with Fake Four Inc.

Listen to the tracks on our Soundcloud Page (many of them at full length):

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“Breadth Control“, the debut full length from David Vangel (formerly Vangel), is a mind altering affair loaded with emotive melodies, explosive dynamics, and savage gauntlets of fierce drum programming. Raising the bar, the 13-track collection is a fusion of sampling and live instrumentation, including elements of hiphop, jazz, indie rock, electronic, gentle psychedelia, and even world music. The journey of “Breadth Control” is intense; moving listeners with orchestral string arrangements and an overall cinematic quality that creates abstract visions ranging from optimism to melancholy.

On a thematic level, “Breadth Control” is an exploration of the scope of human thinking while it is engaged in sound and music. A musical experience that is the intermingling of genres, the debut LP is the future of electronic music from the brain of one of Canada’s most prominent sound pioneers.

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“Eating Concrete” is the long awaited follow-up EP by Geste to his successful “Jaw Breaker” debut on Equinox Records in december 2008. On this new 5 track epos, the Parisian producer did again what he is best at: creating electronic music that grabs you by the hair and makes you spin in all directions!

The title track “Eating Concrete“, replete with supercharged keyboards, intricate arrangement thrilling drums and percussion, is hyperactive and generous at the same time – twisting up soundscapes for the listeners.

Then, with no time to catch breath, the second main track “Slag It Up” gets even heavier. The song is like a short film where the listener finds themself thrust into the heart of a frantic chase. The only thing to do: run fast, very fast!

Next, Geste allows himself to slow down on “Lava Lava Loca“, a peaceful tune paving the way to the final sprint: “Run Before The Flood“, another high energy electro tune that keeps the tension running till the very end of the EP.

However you take in this release, Geste proves once more that his sound is possibly one of the most unique styles to come out of electronic music in the past few years. Trying to describe it will, most times, leave you short of words. The German magazine Goon simply called it “electronic music for all head bangers” and De-Bug noticed the songs’ “exuberant terror flair” that “almost makes you weep for joy…“. What would be your description?

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2011 brings us the Shorted Circuits EP, a very special 10″ picture disc from Ceschi & DJ Scientist that contains 2 new tracks as well as a bunch of great unreleased remixes from “The One Man Band Broke Up” album.

The title track “Shorted Circuits” is an ode to Ceschi‘s grandmother who passed away on September 13th, 2010:
“Almost exactly three years before her passing my grandmother was hospitalized for two months and returned home only to have lost her ability to walk, speak and eat properly. My brother David, my mother and I all moved in together with my grandparents to help nurse Nonna (as we call her in Italian) to better health. Throughout this time period she had been suffering from intense panic attacks and had to eat through a feeding tube. The basis of this song was written to this inspirational DJ Scientist track while I sat next to my Nonna one day in the kitchen back in late 2007/early 2008. Listening back to Shorted Circuits 3 years later, the most powerful thing about the song is that, with persistent help of my brother and family, my Grandmother eventually succeeded in walking, talking and eating normally again. She was an incredibly strong woman and lived happily for years after she was supposed to. We laughed a lot and really appreciated each other until her last day. I’ll miss her deeply for the rest of my life – and this song will always remind me of her. My only hope is that listeners can appreciate it as much as I do.” -ceschi

Keeping up with Ceschi‘s tradition of telling Bad Jokes – Q: What’s Black and White and Red All Over? A: A nun falling down the stairs – the EP continues. Although the acoustic guitar version of “Black and White and Red All Over” has become a highly requested staple of Ceschi’s live performance, this is the original version produced by DJ Scientist. The light string plucks and delicate but crisp bouncy drums are a nice accompaniment for Ceschi‘s story of growing up as a questioning Catholic school boy. As with most of Ceschi‘s music, all of the lyrics stem from reality. This is Ceschi‘s ultimate ode to the hypocrisies of a church that brought him faith and proceeded to take it away.

Next up, “Half Mast” – one of the key tracks from Ceschi‘s last album – got remixed by some of the finest beatmakers today: David Vangel from Toronto, 2econd Class Citizen from London and Phonatic from Würzburg provided stunning new versions of the tune, each adding their personal twist. While Phonatic combined straight forward hip hop drums with synths and a strong bassline, Vangel & 2econd Class Citizen kept more of the original melancholic feel of the track but added new samples and sounds. Last but not least, the title track from “The One Man Band Broke Up” album got reworked by The Raincoatman. The result is stunning uptempo alternative rock track with crashing drums and fierce guitars that additionally features an extra verse by Ceschi talking about the “Übermensch”.

While the remixes by David Vangel and Phonatic can be found on the b-side of the vinyl, the remixes by 2econd Class Citizen and The Raincoatman are available on the digital release that, alongside 3 bonus instrumentals, is provided via download code.

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“Guacha” is the follow up single to the Son Of Kick release “Revolution ABC” EP.

This monstrous slab of bass driven, hip hop fuelled beatmastery lined with THE most catchy lyrical chant from New York’s Natalia Clavier. It’s club banger; it’s commercial radio hit; it’s underground. Once again Son Of Kick nailed it by crossing boundaries and ticking boxes other producers can’t.

Alternative Artwork for Digital Release by Grems

Alongside the original, Son Of Kick looked to the talents of Disiz, Grems and Micro Coz for added power for the “Guacha Rekix” version. Additionally, “Revolution B”, an equally massive tune from his aforementioned EP, was added to the vinyl 12” to complete the package while the digital version of the single (which is included as a free download for vinyl buyers) offers a dub version and also acapella.

About Son Of Kick:
Based in London, DJ and multi instrumentalist Son Of Kick is gaining a reputation from Berlin to Brooklyn for his bumping, super charged set, which is a bass-feast of heavy electro and dubstep. SOK has played on festivals and in clubs such as Gilles Peterson Worldwide Festival, the O2 Wireless or at Yoyo at Notting Hill Arts Club, to name a few. He has been co-producing alongside the French DJ/producer Simbad a new album for their collective project with Grems & Disiz La Peste (Rouge A Levre) as well as ongoing tracks with MikaMiki & Foreign Beggars.

Son Of Kick’s sound has already been picked-up by various labels including recording tracks for the Stanton Warrior’s imprint, Beats Records and pioneering London imprint Botchit & Scarper. Recent remix credits include work for artists such as Tokyo Police Club or Husky Rescue and for labels such as Man Recordings (Germany), ESL Music (Washington DC), Civil Music (UK), and Om Records (San Francisco).

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Equinox Records celebrates its 25th release with a deluxe limited edition box set. Containing a 7inch as well as a custom USB Stick (only with the first 50 copies!!), the main part of the beautiful collector’s box is a 50-minute audio cassette (yes, a real tape!) featuring two incredible Equinox megamixes by Buddy Peace and Phonatic.

Not only that the two deejays had access to the original tracks from the past 24 releases on Equinox Records (plus tracks from the Equinox.Digital and Audiac catalogue), label founder Günter Stöppel a.k.a. DJ Scientist dug through the archives and supplied them with additional and seperated layers, instrumental versions and acapellas. This gave them the opportunity to really blend and mash up the tunes, resulting in a never heard before sound experience.

Phonatic from Würzburg / Germany, whose mix can be found on side A of the tape, has been part of the Equinox fam for a long time. Having released well-received mix-cds on the sublabel Audiac as well as providing the last two album preview mixes for Ceschi and 2econd Class Citizen, he has now out-done himself with his 25 minute megamix. Including possibly more than 50 tracks and countless extra layers blended on top, it became a true masterpiece and example of how to use an ableton live / mpd set up in full effect.

To follow on side B of the tape, we find Buddy Peace. Buddy is far from being a no name DJ and has earned a huge fan base of mixtape and underground hip-hop followers over the years. Besides doing dj gigs around the world, having played some of Europe’s biggest festivals and being the support DJ for Prince Po (of Organized Konfusion), he has done several mixes for well-known labels such as Warp, Lex, Bully and Sage Francis’ Strange Famous Records (which he is currently signed to). With his version of the Equinox megamix he definitely took it to the next level: Buddy transformed and mashed the tracks to a completely new and original sounding 25-minute mixture. Using remarkable bits of the songs, chopping them up and adding new drums while maintaining a minimalistic and intelligent touch, this megamix became very special and brilliant.

Next up, the A side of the vinyl 7inch contains an unreleased remix by Deadpan Darling’s “Laugh Track” by Munich based artist Deckard. With this track, Deckard proves once more that he is one of the best downbeat producers in Europe, giving the track an even darker feel, surrounded by dense sounds and striking drums. On the flipside, 2econd Class Citizen’s classic “Wishing Well” gets reworked by The Raincoatman and Vangel from Canada. Although this tune has been remixed previously, this new version gives it a new groovy feel with its additional bass and wah wah guitars.

Furthermore, on the digital version of the remixes release, we find a new version of the early 70s recording “A Year And A Day” by the legendary UK group The Peddlers (with Roy Phillips) by Twistedlogic & Pesticyde and also a new version of “A New Day”, another tune by 2econd Class Citizen this time remixed by DJ Phonatic, showcasing his producer skills as well. Concluding the remixes, electronic producer lodsb (of Karhu) re-works (or better “re-destroys”) Asup’s “Untitled”, that can originally be found on a 7inch picture disc recording on Audiac, into a devasting, uncompromising and thrilling new track.

And finally, the first 50 of the 250 copies of the sets include a USB stick that contains the long time lost and now recouped 2007 tour video with unseen live footage by Ceschi, Noah23, The Dedicated Beatheads, 2econd Class Citizen and more. However, if you miss the limited package with the stick, all copies include a download link for the video as well as the digital version of the remix release and more bonus material, making “Equinox presents – The 25th” a worthy package for all music lovers and collectors.

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Ceschi’s album “The One Man Band Broke Up”, entirely produced by DJ Scientist, was released in June 2010 and immediately became a success on the independent market. Many magazines and fans already designated it “album of the year”, Okayplayer called it “a significant piece of art”, giving it 89 of 100 points, while URB mag even stated it is „one of the best conceptual hip hop records to drop in the past decade“.

Aside from Ceschi’s incredible lyrical talent, many reviewers honorably mentioned the beautifully arranged and detailed production work backing the vocals, recognizing it as a major force behind the success of the album. On the instrumental version of “The One Man Band Broke Up”, that is now released as a beautiful limited vinyl picture disc on Equinox Records, one can hear how meticulously those songs have been put together and arranged, and how all tracks, alongside sundry interludes and vocal samples, result in a new and one of a kind album that is equally as entertaining, bright and powerful as any Blockhead or RJD2 release. With cinematic drums, a large variety of sounds and samples as well as chopped live instruments, main tracks like “Half Mast”, “No New York” and “Hangman” stand out with hard hitting beats while the more mellow and folky tunes like “Bad Jokes” or “Long Live The Short Lived” give the album the smooth melancholy bliss Scientist is known for.

Without even trying, “The One Man Band Instrumentals” by DJ Scientist could possibly be one of the best organic sounding instrumental hip hop releases this year.

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(01) The One Man Band Broke Up
(02) Half Mast mp3
(03) No New York mp3
(04) Hangman mp3
(05) Fallen Famous mp3

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New Haven songwriter/multi-instrumentalist/rapper Ceschi Ramos (pronounced chess-key) and Berlin producer DJ Scientist initially connected around 2005 over a mutual adoration of rare 60s/70s psychedelic, prog and folk rock as well as 90s hip hop. On their first record together, “The One Man Band Broke Up“, both gentlemen evoke their influences creating a completely original sounding, melodic, dark and unabashedly progressive hip hop concept album.

Based around the ever revisited topic of the rise and fall of a musician, in this case one named Julius and The Bearded Saviour, “The One Man Band Broke Up” is as much about Ceschi‘s own fear of failure as it is about personal experiences in a dog eat dog music industry. As Ceschi‘s voice moves from meticulous almost mathematical rhythms to aggressive nearly punk howling to scat like rhymes, Scientist layers epic montages of samples, dynamic drums, along with chopped live instruments to compliment the diversity of styles. The album even slides in two of Ceschi‘s acoustic based tunes complete with violins, banjos and ukuleles. Friends including Sole, Astronautalis, Radical Face (of Electric President), 2econd Class Citizen, Cars & Trains and MiC K!NG also contribute instrumentation and vocals. The combined outcome is a post-modern hip hop project unlike anything else the two musicians have previously released.

It’s been four years since Ceschi‘s last album “They Hate Francisco False” slowly but surely gathered a following around the world because of its honest and unique blend of left field hip hop and indie folk. During that recording hiatus Ceschi relentlessly toured the US, Canada, Europe and Japan with independent hip hop heroes such as Myka 9, Awol One, Sole and Onry Ozzborn all while starting his own successful record label, Fake Four Inc., and recording his latest album with Equinox Records‘ founder DJ Scientist.

However you take in this music – it is undeniable that “The One Man Band Broke Up” is a powerful new album coming from an indie hip hop world that has largely become stagnant and safe. This record isn’t afraid of its own intelligence, technicality and sincerity.

“Some of the best examples of alternative hip hop in recent years.”
Stereokill.net (4.5 of 5)

“The One Man Band Broke Up is one of the best conceptual hip hop records to drop in the past decade.”
URB Magazine

“A significant piece of art”
Okayplayer Magazine (89 of 100)

“Ceschi is a supremely talented MC who clearly has his finger on a fresh, new pulse of alternative hip-hop.”
ESM 8/10

“Ceschi’s new album is going to blow people away… it’s a refreshing hip-hop album with all the prog elements you’d expect from a meticulous vinyl collecting German (DJ Scientist) and some of the best hip-hop song writing i’ve heard in ages.”
Sole / soleone.org
“The Ceschi album is AMAZING. Holy shit!”
Buddy Peace / Strange Famous Records

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On this new limited 7inch vinyl and digital release Equinox Records introduces Andreikelos from Greece to the label’s artist roster. Mediterranean sound meets electro as the traditional Greek organ bouzouki smoothly flows over an abstract hip-hop beat alongside violins and synths, all blended with an MPC 2500 accompanied by two Technics 1200s.

“Not all of my beats have a mediterranean character but since this is to be my first official international release I wanted it to sound like home”. (Andreikelos)

The philosophy of “(Call For) The Last Stand” is all about unity even when there is no hope spotted nearby. Though fighting for your rights and beliefs until the last breath can lead to what the ancient Spartans called “The ultimate glory”, you never know how the final battle will end and who will be the last man standing.

Leaving these Greek affairs behind, Earthkeptwarm (who already provided us his great remix of 2econd Class Citizen’s “Step Inside”) adds some UK flavour to the tune. The wobbling bass of his striking dubstep remix is giving the track a completely new feel and makes this release a useful tool for djs as well.

Bonus Tracks (digital only):
The hard beat at the beginning, alongside with the distorted guitars, piano synths and turntables are only “A Good Start” to what comes on the finale which exceeds 200 bpm. With drums flowing everywhere, “crying” guitars and an all-controlling bouzouki, this is to be an adrenaline boost to start a day, or could it be a great ending too?

Tracklist Digital:

(01) (Call For) The Last Stand mp3
(02) (Call For) The Last Stand (Earthkeptwarm Remix) mp3
(03) A Good Start

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“Can I continue?” asks US-rapper K-The-I??? over the hard hitting “Android Porn” vocal remix by legendary UK producer Si Begg, that is now released on Equinox Records.

After a successful 12” single with remixes by Mochipet, Fulgeance, Playpad Circus and Geste, and a well received animation video produced by MuscleBeaver, this is the last release connected to Kraddy’s Glitch Hop anthem “Android Porn”. And isn’t it true, that a rap version of this classic tune is what everybody has been waiting for?

So, the answer to K-The-I??? definitely is “Yes, you can!”. With his incredible flow and his abstract style that moves from fast to slow, K-The-I??? and Si Begg have created a dope, yet unconventional and futuristic hip hop track, that should be found in many DJ’s playlists soon.

While the 10” features the main rap version and the original Si Begg instrumental remix of “Android Porn” on the flip side, the digital release additionally contains an alternate mix of the vocal track where Begg added even more bass giving it a more dubby and electronic feel. Furthermore, instrumentals, dub versions and acapella are included and will definitely please the DJ’s.

“Godzilla-sized dancefloor smasher from Si Begg while K-The-I??? holds it down like a samurai on the lyrics front. Absolute killer remix, this is what I always hoped the future would sound like.“
Laurent Fintoni / Rhythm Incursions / Spin Science

“Si Begg and K-The-I??? take the track to the next level! Killer!”
Jaw Modulation Radio

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Ceschi’s “Postcard Package” is a set of 3 lovely vinyl postcards including 3 completely exclusive songs (not to be released digitally or on any other format) produced by DJ Scientist. The set is limited to 25 hand numbered copies only. The 60s styled artwork was done by The Raincoatman.

The cards were available for pre-order via a hidden link on the Equinox Records website and were sold out quickly. Originally, the set was planned for release in early 2009 (hence the low catalogue number) but due to some manufacturing difficulties and other unfortunate incidents (e.g. the postcards were lost for a couple of weeks on the way from the manufacturer) the release date got pushed back until 2010.

But luckily, everything worked out nicely in the end as you can see on the pictures. And a couple of true fans that found the link on our website and have send us a message are very happy to have already received their copies.

Here is some more info about the titles:

“(My Last) Battle Rap” is simply Ceschi’s battle song against himself. Over a pounding psych-hop beat by Scientist complete with abrasive cuts, the lyricist quickly and technically shits on himself and the indie hip hop world.

“California” is a simple and naked hip hop song with very personal yet mocking lyrics about watching an ex-girlfriend get married to a “born again christian” junkie.

“Hello N.Y.” is a small piece of Ceschi & DJ Scientist’s “The One Man Band Broke Up” story which was finally not used for the album – this little psych/punk/hop song is an observation of Julius (the one man band) in his prime and his clichéd rock star antics complete with cocaine and fellatio at a sold out show in New York City.

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Without a doubt, “Android Porn” by Kraddy (founding member of The Glitch Mob) is an exceptional track and one of the true anthems for a kind of new music called “Glitch Hop”. Upon its release, the original version grabbed the attention of producers and fans alike and immediately climbed both sales and dj charts. It is now time to bring in some new flavour to this amazing tune on a 5 track remix EP on Equinox Records.

First off, Daly City’s beatmaking genius Mochipet drops his monstrous “godzillaporn” version. A pushing, glitched out masterpiece with distorted synths that definitely needs to get bumped as loud as the original.

Then, there is Fulgeance (of Musique Large fame) providing a brand new, even more danceable feeling to the track. The striking bass, chopped synths and wonky beats will give you the ultimate thrill.

Next up, aspiring producer Playpad Circus’ version is probably the most suspenseful one. The arrangement builts up bit by bit, constantly evolving, keeping you begging for more until, finally, the synths, additional guitars and drums come in, punching right in your face.

Still need more? Si Begg from London, lately been working on projects for different labels such as Mutate, Noodles or Big Dada, drops the most brutal, heavy and agressive remix on this EP. Absolutely no compromise – just pure glitched madness! Again, play this one as LOUD as possible!

Last, but definitely not least, Geste from Paris presents even more bass and synth weirdness in his unique and distinctive style he already offered us on his Jaw Breaker 12”.

The EP is a strong collection of tracks that compliment each other. Each remix stands on their own as well and will blow minds on dancefloors across the globe. So, what more can you ask for? – Definitely one of the first must-have-releases in 2010!

PLEASE NOTE: Vinyl version additionally includes the original version of Android Porn, but not all remixes. Furthermore, the Si Begg remix will soon be featured on another release (vinyl & digital) along with an awesome rap version featuring K-The-I??? (of Mush, Big Dada).

“I‘ve been hammering the original of ‚Android Porn‘ for months, been one of the highlights of my sets. Love what you‘ve done with the reworking, going straight to the top of the pile!

Alex Mr Sushi / 44 promotions

“It’s 2010 and while we haven’t got hoverboards yet the future of music is well and truly here. Kraddy’s original gets the reworks it deserves from the new-school of producers that are rocking dancefloors and busting speakers worlwide. HEAVY.”
Laurent Fintoni / Rhythm Incursions / Spin Science

“Android Porn is massive, will definitely play this out when i can.”Kid 606

„ill.ill.and ill again. I will definitely be playing the Android Porn remix :)“Dov / Muti music

“Been spinning it all week – love it! Thinks its in my top 5 on the bbc website (asian Net) as well.”Bobby Friction (BBC Asian Network)

„Holy crap, this made me wanna buy better speakers!“ Tiamut

„He‘s done crunked over the top on this piece of sickness.“ ChaiCycles

„I‘ve never heard a song that can even compare to this. Phenomenal, at least.“ M.N. TwinsAbout Kraddy:
After deciding to part ways with the Glitch Mob, Kraddy continues to trail-blaze as a composer and a DJ in the US and abroad. A dancefloor messiah to both booty shakers and trainspotters, Kraddy is known worldwide for his distinctive style. His sets are a futuristic fusion of dubstep, hip hop, and dancehall – all laced with Kraddy‘s signature style of edits and remixes that make his sound so unique. Like the skaters and surfers from his home in Venice Beach, Kraddy will unapologetically blow your mind with his skill, style and his no prisoners attitude.

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Drawing from his palette of all things psychedelic, prog-rock, folk and traditional-song related, mixed with modern techniques of sampling and sequencing, 2econd Class Citizen aka Aaron Thomason creates music which transcends a multitude of genres to distil a wholly immersive experience.

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With “A World Without”, his epic, debut full length, 2CC has out-done even himself in terms of the scale of production and ambition of the vast journey of song he has successfully encompassed. The music is awash with soaring sections of string-led beauty, doused with brooding passages of disquietening ambience and driven on by crashing drums layered with such subtle textures as to create a densely-woven sound that might take many listens to fully realise. Punctuated only with snatches of lost folk songs and striking contributions from US based song/wordsmith Ceschi Ramos and the deeply unsettling jamesreindeer, the album is an ever-changing, ever-refining kaleidoscope of melodies and directions. Each track touches on a subtly different part of the whole which, in turn, has the album slowly draw itself out in one great all-encompassing movement, carrying the listener off into a brave new world rarely visited in this current musical age.

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Tracklist:

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(01) Step Inside mp3
(02) One By One (feat. Ceschi) mp3
(03) A New Day mp3

Twin loves for the psychedelic folk heritage of his fair isle blended with his great appreciation for all things boom bap and break related lead 2econd Class Citizen on to the inevitable path of composing his own works in order to combine these two seemingly separate musical strands. This diverse hybrid can be heard on both his EP releases “Divided Reality“ and “Wyred Folk” as well has the recently released “One By One” single which all have created a buzz of anticipation from a diverse collection of musical circles and gained him great reviews and quotes from well respected figures in the music scene. The astonishing debut album “A World Without” creates lavish tapestries of soundscapes, string melodies and driving acoustic guitar lines smelted together with rich bass and dusty drum-breaks to offer up wide-spectrums of emotive song-writing.

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2econd Class Citizen Live:

In his live sets 2econd Classs Citizen recreates the complexity and depth of orchestration he has become known for, utilising sound editing software with live drum/pad work, to keep a strong improvisational aspect. 2CC has toured Europe in 2007 with Noah23 and Ceschi and has performed at festivals including Glastonbury (UK) and Soundwave (Croatia). Furthermore, he has shared stages with an eclectic mix of artists including Gong, Ugly Duckling and John Robinson (Scienz of Life). On top of this, he was just recently invited to produce a mix for the Solid Steel radio show (Ninja Tune) which will, without a doubt, introduce his music to a much bigger audience.

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This is a test pressing vinyl with unique handdrawn artwork by The Raincoatman of 2econd Class Citizen’s “One By One” Single (only one copy exists!!). It was given away for free to the winner of a contest (see questions below) in the Equinox October 2009 newsletter.

2econd Class Citizen – Test Press Contest

1. Who guested on the track “Listen The Night”?

Reindeer (aka JamesReindeer)

2. What is the name of 2econd Class Citizen’s first EP?

Divided Reality

3. How many official versions and remixes exist of 2CC’s track “Wishing Well”?

4 versions exist:
1. Wishing Well on Divided Reality
2. Wishing Well on Wyred Folk (different version as on Divided Reality)
3. Wishing Well (Wyred Remix) on Wyred Folk
4. Wishing Well (Re-Wyred Remix) on the One Year & A Day Compilation. This version contains new drums and is mixed differently.

4. Name all (official) remixers of 2CC’s track “Step Inside”.

Playpad Circus (aka PPC)
Earthkeptwarm
Bias
Zoën

5. Name the false alternative name of the album “A World Without” that was mentioned on some of the stickers on the “One By One EP”.

The false name was “Madrugada”. It was mentioned on the handnumbered copies 201 to 500 as these had a different sticker.

6. Name the vinyl matrix number / number in run-out groove of “Wyred Folk”.

69365E1/A and 69365E2/A
Bonus question* 1: Which of 2CC’s solo releases are handnumbered?

Only the “One By One EP” is handnumbered.

Bonus question* 2: Which three handwritten letters can be found on the front cover of the “Wyred Folk EP”?

“Sci”

Tracklist:

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(01) For This We’ll Find No End feat. Reindeer & James pHoney mp3
(02) Step Inside (Playpad Circus Remix) mp3
(03) The Day You’re Lost Or Found (EP Mix) mp3

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Brilliantly edited and mixed by our main man phonatic, this 10 minute megamix contains tracks from the new album as well as tracks from his EPs “Wyred Folk” and “One By One”. Get it for free and please spread the news:

(01) Step Inside A World Without (Intro)
(02) On Emptyness (0:37)
(03) Step Inside (Interlude) (1:01)
(04) Step Inside VS. One By One (feat. Ceschi) (1:15)
(05) One By One (Interlude) (2:05)
(06) One By One (2:28)
(07) Wishing Well (Wyred Remix) (phonatic Edit) (3:31)
(08) For This We’ll Find No End (feat. James PHoney & Reindeer) (4:00)
(09) The Way I Feel (phonatic Edit) (4:41)
(10) A New Day (5:28)
(11) A New Day VS. One By One (feat. Ceschi) (6:31)
(12) Wait For Me Interlude (Interlude) (6:58)
(13) The Day You’re Lost or Found (7:08)
(14) Angelic Soul (phonatic Edit) (7:49)
(15) Listen The Night (feat. Reindeer) (8:20)

Tracks (01) – (06), (10) – (13) & (15) taken from the forthcoming Album “A World Without” (eqx-019). Other tracks taken from the EP’s “Wyred Folk” (eqx-009) and “One By One” (eqx-017).

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“Same Old Love Song”, the A side of Ceschi (pro-nounced Chess-Key) and DJ Scientist‘s 12″ picture disc is an upbeat folk tinged hip hop piece which owes as much to OD‘s “Beneath The Surface” compilation as it does to Too Short‘s “Freaky Tales“. On this track, Ceschi has recruited LA Underground legends 2Mex and Awol One to join in on tackling the always relevant issue of women and love or lack there of. The light hearted nature of these three distinctive emcees’ lyrics blend perfectly with Scientist’s throbbing drums, folk guitars and female vocal samples.

On the B-Side we hear Ceschi team up with one of his hip hop idols and tour mates, Freestyle Fellowship founder, Myka 9 on the track “Objects Are Falling“. Between the trumpet spikes, an infectiously bouncy beat, and a space age melodic chorus lay 3 hard hitting verses covering the topics of religious and political control, communal unity and human symmetry.

While these may be two of Ceschi’s most straight forward hip hop tracks to date, he proves that he can style and flow with the best of the west. With this picture disc Equinox Records may have released one of the strongest underground hip hop singles to come out in years.

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Departing from the highly acclaimed “Wyred Folk” EP debut on Equinox, this new release by 2econd Class Citizen bridges the way to his forthcoming album “Madrugada” (due out in fall 2009) and includes 6 great new tracks: 2 special EP mixes, a non-album tune and 3 exclusive remixes of “Step Inside“.

Focusing on sample based instrumental music on his previous works, the “One By One EP” now features the vocal talents of Ceschi Ramos, Reindeer (of Fbcfabric & Reindeer) and James pHoney. The title track is a hip hop, folk tinged masterpiece with Ceschi showcasing his inimitable style, switching effortlessly between stunningly beautiful harmonies and ridiculously good rapping. “For This We’ll Find No End” finds the two rappers/wordsmiths Reindeer & J. pHoney delivering their unique and totally original approach to the English language peerlessly over 2CC’s dirty drums. Next, on “The Day You’re Lost Or Found“, 2CC shows once again that he is on top of the game when it comes to creating instrumental Hip-Hop with deepness and power. Reminiscent of the vibe on “Wyred Folk”, this track might incorporate one of the most catchy samples ever found, built around a drumbeat and arrangement that leaves other contemporary beat makers far behind and proves that 2econd Class Citizen is in a class of its own.

Whereas the original compositions are in the vein of folk inspired instrumental hip hop and film score music, the remixes offer more electronic and “clubbier” versions, pleasing the DJ’s as well. Upcoming producer genius Christian Fischer aka Playpad Circus from Berlin goes first with his unique interpretation of “Step Inside”. Based around the vocal announcement of a maniac circus director: “Take a ride on a fantazmorgial carnival ride” – Chris plays around with this idea, twisting and distorting your mind with his complex bass and synth driven sounds taking you on a one of a kind sound trip unlike anything you may have heard for a while! Then, Bias (of Canteen Records and known for his works with Lewis Parker) sets the pace with his trademark style, combining hip hop beats with intricately arranged sounds to create a stunning laidback summer anthem. Finally, French beat maker Zoën offers another down-tempo version, that starts with a thrilling slow beat and transforms into a hypnotic drum and bass tune.

(01) For This We’ll Find No End feat. Reindeer & James pHoney mp3
(05) One By One feat. Ceschi (EP Mix) mp3
(03) The Day You’re Lost Or Found (EP Mix) mp3
(04) For This We’ll Find No End (Instrumental)
(05) One By One (EP Mix) (Instrumental)

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Following the shortly released vinyl and digital versions of the “One By One EP“, the 5 amazing remixes of “Step Inside” are now available on this seperate release.

First, we have upcoming producer genius Christian Fischer aka Playpad Circus from Berlin with his unique interpretation of the song. Based around the vocal announcement of a maniac circus director: “Step Inside, take a ride on a fantazmorgial carnival ride” – Chris plays around with this idea, twisting and distorting your mind with his complex bass and synth driven sounds taking you on a one of a kind sound trip unlike anything you may have heard for a while! Next up, another new talent, Earthkeptwarm from London offers a very unique dub step version with a monstrous bass-line that compliments the melancholic piano and guitars nicely. Then, Bias (of Canteen Records and known for his works with Lewis Parker) sets the pace with his trademark style, combining hip hop beats with intricately arranged sounds to create a stunning laidback summer anthem. Finally, French beat maker Zoën offers another down-tempo version, that starts with a thrilling slow beat and transforms into a hypnotic drum and bass tune.

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This could easily be the most adventurous IDM / electronic release this year. Before creating the glitchiest electronic music known to computers and men, Geste from Paris was an accomplished bass player in various bands, playing music from hardcore punk to post rock. Those influences are still alive in the ferocious energy of the music he does now. The title track “Jaw Breaker” will make your speakers scream “LOUD!”, while “Ohm Sick” builds up tension second after second. Next up, “André” is pure and raw beauty, while the revised version of “Octobre” makes up a perfect ending for this astonishing debut.

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This could easily be the most adventurous IDM / electronic release this year. Before creating the glitchiest electronic music known to computers and men, Geste from Paris was an accomplished bass player in various bands, playing music from hardcore punk to post rock. Those influences are still alive in the ferocious energy of the music he does now. The title track “Jaw Breaker” will make your speakers scream “LOUD!”, while “Ohm Sick” builds up tension second after second. Next up, “André” is pure and raw beauty, while the revised version of “Octobre” makes up a perfect ending for this astonishing debut.

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This 7inch single is the first introduction to Ceschi (pronounced Chess-key) and DJ Scientist’s new full length album to be released in early 2009.

“Count On It” is a powerful hip hop anthem sparked by DJ Scientist’s epic string and drum arrangement, written just weeks before the Fall 2007 Equinox Records European tour. During this time period Ceschi’s band Toca had recently fallen apart only months after the release of their full length album. On top of this, Ceschi severely broke his arm and was taking 90 mg of morphine every day to nullify the pain all while his Grandmother fell seriously ill and ended up spending 2 months in the hospital. “Count On It” was written after one of Ceschi’s every day/all day visits to the hospital and is an in depth self-analysis of a struggling musician trying to maintain a life outside of society’s normalcy.

“Bad Jokes”, is one of the key tracks making up Ceschi’s semi-fictional story of a one-man-band who went by the name of “Julius and The Bearded Savior”. This song is only a single part of an ongoing tale of stardom, deception and failure within an unappreciative music industry. Although “Bad Jokes” is the first story you will hear about “The One Man Band” – it is one of the last stories about his life that is featured on the album which is littered with references to this same story.

The digital version additionally contains a remix of “Bad Jokes” by Misanthrop and an instrumental version of “Count On It”.

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Following the success of the teaser mini-album “One Year & A Day – The 5inch Files” that gained worldwide attention despite its limited pressing (a hand-numbered limited edition vinyl release, and the first ever 5inch series!), Equinox Records finally drops its second full length album, the second part of the sound exposure compilation series: “One Year & A Day – A Sound Exposure Vol.2”.

„This album is one of the biggest projects in my career. I have put together everything that defines my work for the label as well as what defines me as a DJ and a record collector. I am more than happy with the final result!” (DJ Scientist)

Handpicked from a motley stack of demos and promotional CDs, Günter Stöppel (aka DJ Scientist), the founder of Equinox Records, assembled a product that features 14 outstanding tracks by some of today’s most cutting-edge artists and producers. Spanning various genres and aesthetics, the compilation is as breathtaking in its breadth as it is in its execution. Whether it be a folk-rock inspired breakbeat banger such as 2econd Class Citizen’s “Wishing Well,” the forward-thinking electronic prog-rock tune “Times Like This” by Free The Robots, the original post-instrumental Hip-Hop track “Tibetisches Gutenachtlied” by Aqua Luminus III., or the thrilling “Octobre” by electro/IDM-wunderkind Geste, the second volume of the series succeeds in representing the pioneering ethos Equinox strives to uphold. Likewise, Arcsin’s rock ballad “Scarlet Fever” juxtaposed with the bitter-sweet lyrics of Deadpan Darling’s pop song “Laugh Track,” Emynd’s inexorable electro tune “Identity Through Alterity,” or the classical cinematic introduction by the famous 60s rock group The Peddlers, the “One Year & A Day” compilation covers a diverse range of styles and genres, illustrating the amalgam of sound Equinox is known for, resulting in nothing if not one of the most distinct and forceful collections of songs within the past several years.

The Peddlers – A Year And A Day (Metamorphosis)

This is the song that gave this compilation its name. Recorded in 1972 with the London Philharmonic Orchestra and released on the Album “Suite London” it was sung by the legendary composer and lyricist Roy Phillips. His unique and inimitable voice makes it the perfect intro for “A Sound Exposure Vol.2”.

Vangel – A Different Direction

It’s time for a change and we’re back: bigger, better, and louder. Equinox 2008. “A Different Direction” is the wake-up-call of this album.

Free The Robots – Times Like This

“Times Like This“ is an insatiable drum inferno that leaves you begging for more. Taken from the very limited Free The Robots debut-cd “The Prototype”, this track is THE electronic progressive rock song for the year 2008 and beyond. The vocals are sung by Phil Nisco.

2econd Class Citizen – Wishing Well (Re-Wyred Mix)

2econd Class Citizen is the master of contemporary electronic folk rock, and “Wishing Well“ is the genre’s prototypical hymn. In true postmodern fashion, because of a harddisk crash, the final version of this seemed to be lost forever. Now, one year after the release of an unmixed version on his EP „Wyred Folk“, we finally get the official version of this classic. Descry or rediscover: “Wishing Well“ is one of these songs, that won’t let you pass by unaffected.

Arcsin – Scarlet Fever

Since the label’s early days, the music of New York’s Arcsin accompanied me and Equinox. Who said he was too progressive and dark? His most recent album “Oculus Fang“ is a paragon of perfection, and though the noteworthy anthem “Scarlet Fever“ might be more accessible than most of his other work, the song still reflects the cold, brazen sound of post-9/11 New York. This is this album’s love song.

Brenmar – Cavernous

“Cavernous“ is not a merely skit, but an awe-inspiring and fascinating fragment of sound–full of tension and energy, blazing with anger and stirring your blood to just let you return back into a fair and beautiful dream.

Deadpan Darling – Laugh Track

Deadpan Darling is the music of Kingston and Ian Taggart a.k.a Blue Sky Black Death with the vocals of Ceschi Ramos of Toca and Anonymous Inc.. Ceschi travelled with Equinoix on the 2007 Tour and “Laugh Track” finally solidifies him as a recorded part of the label, making him the first vocal artist on Equinox. The bitter-sweet lyrics and the dallying-minimalistic production make it one of the album’s centerpieces. “Laugh Track” tells the story of somebody trying to escape reality; a story about battling the monotony of life. Wouldn’t it be nice to be constantly followed by laughing or a soundtrack in your head – something that nobody else could hear – a little push to get you through our often mundane reality?

Aqua Luminus III. – Tibetisches Gutenachtlied

Aqua Luminus III., producer of the obscure 88:Komaflash, is one of the most challenging composers of the German abstract hip-hop and electronic scene. Who is layering ancient rap heroes’ vocals on brutal beats better than him? “You try to run away but you can’t!”

Deckard – Dignity Of Men

With “Dignity of Men“ Deckard takes his sound to the next level. His typical sequential drums, a pulsing, hummy bass, an energetic guitar sample and a perfect arrangement make it one of the most barnstorming tracks ever made out of a breakbeat.

Geste – Octobre

„Octobre“ was the last track chosen for this compilation and was the first track ever made by the electo/IDM wunderkind Geste out of Paris. To me, it kind of symbolizes the work on this album: the calm before the storm and the storm itself. A story within the story…

DJ Sept – Morning Comes (Revised)

The original version of this track is found on the first DJ Sept demo that I received from a mutual friend. Finishing the revisited version for his EP “A Promise Never Given” was a long, hard endeavour, but it was certainly worth it. In my opinion, “Morning Comes (Revised)“ is a perfectly composed instrumental masterpiece. It has tension, energy, and emotion, all combined in a way that only Sept is capable of producing, fitting complexity with minimalism flawlessly.

Emynd – Identity Through Alterity

Emynd’s quest for the perfect beat isn’t over yet. “Identity Through Alterity” is five action packed minutes, garnished with breaks and 808-claps. This is the grand finale.

2econd Class Citizen – Change & Motion (Outro)

It’s like a movie’s end at the cinema: you don’t want to get up from your cozy seat.

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The 12” and 7” vinyl single are common formats in the recording industry. And even the rarer used 10” has always been a favourite pick by labels for special issues and collector’s editions. But who has ever heard of the 5inch vinyl disc? The record in the size of a CD is very rarely made. And now, Equinox Records offers the first ever series in this format! “One Year & A Day – The 5inch Files” features ten awesome tracks on 5 different records that will be available in a limited collector’s box of 250 handnumbered copies.

The difficulty of putting this collection together was basically the length of time available on a 5” plate, meaning that each track could not be longer than 2:30 minutes! So, unless you are doing fast punk rock music this short time span is probably not an easy task for composing a nice well rounded track and not just a simple loop. Nevertheless, all artists on this series did a great job arranging fantastic songs, now assembled to a beautiful collection of contemporary electronic hip-hop beats.

The series starts with a real banging introduction title produced by Vangel from Canada. Due to its hard drums and freakish vocal edits it is guaranteed that you won’t need no more coffee to finally “Wake Up”. Next is Misanthrop, the MC and producer out of Munich who is pushing the envelope with “Commercialism”. Heavy bass, automated FX wizardry and a perfect composition keep the 2:30 minutes packed with excitement. Then, DJ Scientist – founder and owner of Equinox Records – sets the pace with his bass driven, britcore styled “Rewind And Refine”. Snatchatec – the 2007 German IDA Champion – who adds some of the fastest cuts known to man, accompanies him. Then, on the flip, Aqua Luminus III. (of 88:Komaflash) brings in some melancholic vibes. With heavy drumming on “Uplock The Poprock” he pleases the mature B-Boy as well as the electronic music fiend out there. Afterwards, Mnemotrauma is on the go with “Shining”. A challenging and diversified Instrumental Hip-Hop composition. He is followed by J. Baracuz – another newcomer out of the booming German electronic Hip-Hop producer scene. “Yellow Cab” is a dope remarkable track that was previously released as a longer version on his album “Lasergun Romances“. After a very smooth soulful skit by SmoKey131, there is B-Ju with “Soja Extra”. His track is one of our favourites on the album. The banging kicks, snapping snares and a fresh arrangement will please everybody. Coming closer to the end, it is Aqua Luminus III. again – this time together with Misanthrop. Regardless of its somewhat brutal and dark vibe, “Sternhagelblau” is nothing but pure pleasure and will keep your head nodding until the last hit. Lastly, there is an epic outroduction by the Raincoatman, concluding with the words “see you real soon”.

And that’s what we definitely hope for: to see you soon, as this short 5inch compilation is another teaser for the upcoming full-length album “A Sound Exposure Vol.2” due out in early May 2008 featuring brand new compositions by Vangel, Aqua Luminus III., DJ Scientist, as well as Free The Robots, Ceschi, 2econd Class Citizen and many others. So stay tuned!

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The “One Year & A Day” EP is a teaser from the forthcoming full-length compilation of the same name on Equinox Records due out in January 2008. This collection of 6 raw, beat-driven compositions will introduce the listener to the album’s aesthetic focus, giving them a fresh first-impression of what it will sound like. Moreover, the beautifully designed picture disc will not only satisfy the growing number of Equinox collectors, but it will also be a vital club tool for DJs while also sounding quite at home in your iPod headphones and on your personal turntable.

Starting off the release is Free The Robots from Santa Ana, who is one of the most in-demand dj- and production acts in Los Angeles right now. His energetic song “Times Like This” is an instant classic that was previously released only on CD. Once the first chord hits your speakers, it will draw you in, leave you begging for more. Next up is Deckard hailing from Munich, Germany who is already well known by Equinox-Fans from his “Noir Desire” EP. His song “Dignity Of Men” is another shining masterpiece among his deeply grooving sound collages. One more name recognizable from previous EQX releases is Emynd, the nomadic DJ/Producer from Philly. Those familiar with Emynd’s work who think they know what to expect from him on this release are of course proven wrong once again. His soulful “Another Postmodern Sunset” is a warm and animated instrumental Hip-Hop track that once again proves his rich stylistic versatility as a producer. Brenmar from Chicago is another artist to keep an eye on. Whether he is performing live on stage or working in his studio, he is always pushing the envelope and exploring how beautiful the combination of big drums, found instruments and noise can be. His contribution “Watermelon Chunks” is no exception. While Brenmar has become an essential part of his hometown’s music/recording-scene, SNTC. and J. Baracuz are still relatively unknown, but rest assured, these are two names that you will remember for years to come. Listening to both of their tracks it is obvious that the future will be theirs.

But, until then, let us enjoy the present, and spend some time with some fine, forward-thinking music… for one year and a day.

Note: 4 of the 6 tracks on this EP are exclusive to this picture disc.

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DJ Sept, a munich native who already earned his stripes with last year´s “Neo Golden Remixes”, returns with “A Promise Never Given”. An addict to rough beats as well as a sucker for spine tingling melodies, he presents us his very own “melodramatic” style. The EP features three tracks: The A-side starts with energetic hiphop drums turning into the rough drum´n bass tune “Seventh Sense” and continues with the uplifting revised version of Sept´s classic “Morning Comes”. Side B on the other hand, presents the first real club hit on our label – a club hit in the style of Equinox: From start to finish “Mental Odyssey” is pure adrenaline and it will grab your heart as well. This EP will leave nobody untouched.

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The Equinox 10inch Series was released between winter 2005 and summer 2006. Each of the four parts of the vinyl series was limited to 500 handnumbered copies, including a lovely and exceptional cover artwork and inlay. Now, for the first time, ten tracks of the series are pieced together to form a compilation, on which each artist presents his unique vision of sound:
DiViNCi (the MPC virtuoso of the Sol.illaquists Of Sound) is featured with the incredible “PUSH Beat” and the concluding “Calm Persuasion”, Deckard from Munich presents 3 beautifully arranged downbeat compositions off his “Noir Desire EP”. Then, comprised of frozen synths and hard hitting drums, Arcsin from New York is offering 3 tracks taken from his “Uprock Citizen EP”, and last but not least DJ Scientist, the owner of Equinox Records himself, completes the album with two of his impressing sound and beat collages: “Atarius” and the melancholic “Autumn Leaves”.
This compilation will only be available digitally – for a limited time of 1 year (ending May 2008) – so go and check it out at ITunes, Beatport, Finetunes, and many other digital stores!

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Music made by an anonymous, mysterious phantom is always interesting but there isn’t much information available about 2econd Class Citizen who’s emergence on the scene has created a buzz of anticipation from a diverse collection of music circles.

2econd Class Citizen (Aaron Thomason) hails from Huddersfield, England and makes music that he simply calls “Wyred Folk”: a hybrid of electronically produced folk combined with instrumental Hip Hop. So far, his only release has been a 12″ EP called “Divided Reality” – a private press record that didn’t reveal much about him, except a simple list of songs and an email address on the label. With this lack of information, all we have left is his music, but thankfully, this music has stories to tell.

Swinging between melancholy and pure anger, strong guitar riffs mined from old psych rock records and the weeping voices lifted from old folk music, 2econd Class Citizen seems to find his real home in a crate of old and dusty vinyl. There is a beat but this is not Hip Hop – at least not as we know it. Yes, there are guitars, but this isn’t folk music anymore. An anonymous voice sings of being lonely within a hundred other voices and there is this music with a new sound, yet, somehow, it is still the old sound — the old loneliness. It is just that now we are listening to it again, for the first time – and we want to listen.

2econd Class Citizen sees himself as an arranger or conductor standing in front of an orchestra of forgotten records, waiting for their time to be played. His music is made up of layer upon layer of beats and samples that become more and more complex as the song progresses, finally ending in a crescendo of sound. Perhaps the music may not have enough bass for the “heads” and may not have enough noise for the “purists”, but who really cares when the result will catch the aware listener’s ear like no other record has in a long time. After all, here are the accents. Here is the feeling that Hip Hop may have lost. But Aaron himself wouldn’t dare to say these things so loudly.

The fantastic 6-track EP “Wyred Folk” has now been released on Equinox Records from Berlin. 2econd Class Citizen is also working on an album to be released in late 2007. A live set is under development that aims to recreate the complexity and depth of orchestration he has become known for, whilst bringing in musicians and using live sound editing software to keep a strong improvisational aspect.

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Equinox Records would like to welcome you once again to “The Neo Golden Age”. This 10” release features DJ Sept, contributing two remixes of the well acclaimed first part of the “Sound Exposure” compilation series.

First up is his remix of DJ Scientist’s “Raincoatman” which has probably been the most successful tune on the album, and has been re-released on two other compilations by different labels. With complementary piano arrangements, a new bassline and drumbeat, DJ Sept re-interprets the song, but keeps it as rich and soulful as the original version.

On the flipside, the remix of Echelon’s “Twilight Zone” leads into a new direction for Equinox. The deep and raving drum & bass tune heads straight to the dance floors. This track definitely hits the spot and makes this 10″ another beautiful and essential Equinox release.

Additional information:
“Welcome to the Neo Golden Age – A Sound Exposure Vol.1” now has been re-released digitally. You can buy the complete album online at finetunes.de and soon on almost every over download shop in the world, including Itunes of course. The digital versions of DJ Sept’s Remixes are available here.

By the way: a second volume of the “Sound Exposure” series is currently in the works and will drop in spring 2007 featuring artists like 2econd Class Citizen, Deckard, DJ Scientist, Arcsin, Emynd, and many others.

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Being the founder of Equinox Records and being responsible for the business side of the label as well, DJ Scientist – now living in Berlin – still finds time to dj at clubs, to release mix cds, to expand his record collection, and, last but not least, to produce music. His “Journey Goodbye EP” concludes the 10inch series, but also can be seen as an outlook on his album, that shall hit the stores in late 2006. As Instrumental Hip-Hop, which DJ Scientist still refers to, in the last years almost has become a synonym for boring music, he proves that sample based production and the need for a crashing drum beat can still sound fresh today. With tracks like “Atarius” and “Autumn Leaves” he continous to develop his own style and raises the bar for a next generation of abstract hiphop beat producers.

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Brutal and melodic, two words which often don’t go together, but which perfectly capture the music of Arcsin. Drawing on influences as diverse as Captain Beefheart and Devo, his patterns and textures allude to a time when drums were hot and synthesizers
were cold. With a unique and distinct sound he is able to create music that tells stories while still providing that all too necessary head nod. That “Animal Beat Drums” as he calls it, is found in almost everything he touches, and is as true to New York as corruption and good bagels. By just allowing himself to make the music he feels needs to be made, rather than what others may expect, he’s able to stay fresh and innovative.

Arcsin`s personal notes about Uprock Citizen: “The music on this record was made partly with the intent of bridging some of the gaps that exist between the techniques employed by a lot of urban composers and beat makers today, and those that are found in other styles and genres of music. The main theme behind the music was to basically storyboard some ideas about the future and society in general, and how we are all collectively being bombarded withdifferent chaotic elements and sound sources, i.e. cell phones, mp3 players etc. But out of all this chaos, there exists a melody and rhythm that is so dynamic that it‘s more often just taken for granted. Reliance on machines to play music everywhere, as well as the use of new forms of machinery in order to make it, connects in ways that people are just discovering. Whatever the outcome, the music I like to make and listen to will always have many layers to discover just like life. One dimensionality in music, art, and existence is just a void that I think nobody wants to find themselves in.

“The Tomorrow People” is my attempt at representing this as best as I could. A building and plodding trip into what I feel will be the melody of people to come. It has some sadness, some happiness, and they both exist together in the chaos. And you‘ll be there if you want to be. “Uprock Citizen Brigade” is more of a New York homage to those who are trying to be part of a cultural movement, mainly Hip Hop, but they don‘t feel connected anymore to the people who are representing it now. It‘s basically an anthem to those who get a high off the smell of a fresh pair of fat-lace superstars. “Epileptic Velvet” plays on the same underlying theme of Uprock, but on a more subdued hand clap throwback note. It‘s the type of piece that will float through my mind at night on the subway, or on the bus seeing people randomly going about their business trying to connect themselves to the city. Weird stuff. I think it‘s necessary to slow down sometimes to really see and hear the emotion. “Jar of Mice” has a lot of meanings to me, which I tried to convey and hopefully did. Most importantly that of being trapped in something you cannot escape, and the sound of tension building, that‘s when the madness sets in. The song is filled with madness, anger, redemption… all of that good stuff that makes us alive. The ending is really just a beginning.“

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Deckard aka Attila Makai is one of the most promising European downbeat producers today. Having independently released a limited edition vinyl EP in 2004 called “dasABSTRAKT”, his musical abilities immediately caught the attention of the Swiss label Ish Records. Later, he was featured on their compilation “The Now Factor” which featured two of his compositions alongside artists from all over the world. Yet these by far have not been the only contributions Deckard has made to the beautiful world of music. Over the past few years he has released around 60 tracks on his own internet based network “Foundation-Crew.com” – which also serves to unite an online community of producers from Paris to Berlin.
Now, Deckard has found a home at Equinox Records. With the “Noir Desire EP” he has made another leap forward, displaying his humbling vision of downtempo beats. Still, you can hear the influences of early MoWax, and the sound of musicians such as DJ Krush and DJ Cam, but always with his personal twist and unique use of athmospheric tones and melodies. Deckard proves his style to be exceptional and pushes himself to the ranks of today’s most cutting edge producers.

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In addition to being an all around studio and programming wizard, DiViNCi (from Orlando, Florida) is also constantly raising the bar for his own live performances by being among the few to use a sampling/drum machine as an instrument rather than a tool. DiViNCi always uses two MPC2000XLs (his weapons of choice) to freely mimic any sound, style, or instrument fulfilling his need for a new embodiment of Free Jazz. As a huge fan of improvisation, you may never know what to expect from a DiViNCi performance, but you can always count on him to go all out, often resulting in an overwhelming emotional and physical experience.

“PUSH Beat” was taken off DiViNCi’s Beat album “Peacez 2 Be & Instru.Frag.Mentalism”. Much like most of his other compositions everything from this track was played live or sequenced on the MPC2000xl. It actually had to be created on two MPCs for it to be heard correctly. The main distorted sound that is the driving force of the whole track is actually separate upright bass samples. DiViNCi tweaked and affected them so much that the sound that you now hear in the track is so dynamically abrasive that it would drown out any other sound coming out of the same MPC. So all the drum, synth, and percussion sounds had to be playing on a separate MPC for them to be heard. “PUSH Beat” is also one of the tracks that DiViNCi uses his signature MPCynth for a solo towards the end. The synth sound you hear is actually made within the MPC out of a snare sound.

The B-Side “Calm Persuasion” (which was originally titled “Ruff House”) can also be found on DiViNCi’s instrumental album. The style and sound of this track are a departure from his usual MPC-heavy compositions. Here, DiViNCi uses drum sounds that were originally tweaked from weird noises he made with his voice, while everything else in the song was written on keyboards.

Both tracks on this vinyl debut allow DiViNCi‘s style to shine through with an organic, soulful, and, yet, experimental appeal. He is right up in front blazing the trail with the likes of Prefuse 73, RJD2, and Andrew Broder. And if you doubt DiViNCi’s credibility, consider some of the high caliber hip-hop artists he’s shared the stage with: KRS-One, Atmosphere, Pharoahe Monch, Jungle Brothers, Black Sheep, Phife Dawg, Lyrics Born and Sage Francis. So run, don’t walk, to the record store – this release is very limited to 500 copies worldwide!! Better get it now!

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Six different artists, different places, different visions of music – one aim. Equinox Records presents its Sound Exposure Vol.1. A variety of electronic and organic fusions that have been put together to form the sound of Equinox. Neither defined by borders of genres, nor by distance. Vienna, Munich, New York, Philadelphia all merge as the Neo Golden Age emerges:

ArcSin introduces you with his track “Positron Affirmation“. Deep synthesizer frequencies and hypnotic vocals, accompanied by atmospheric Hip-Hop Drums – this is the type of sound that Brandon Sand out of Brooklyn, N.Y. is known for. Besides his work for Equinox Records, he was also featured with two beats on the „Definitive Jux Presents 3“ compilation and has recently released his full length instrumental album “Resonant Murk Tactics“ on the new Def Jux sublabel DRX. On the compilation, he represents the Equinox family with two more of his instrumental productions as well as an Outro that prove him to be a truly gifted and talented musician.

Arc is followed up by Danny Decock, a producer, drummer and instrumentalist currently living in Vienna / Austria. While his two tracks “G.k.S.“ and the short “Obscure“ follow a more electronic and producer oriented kind of vibe, he adds a little live band feeling by the help of his friends on “We Will Come Back“: A mellow downbeat composition with his former band partners on keyboard and guitar.

The B-Side of the double vinyl then leads us to Emynd, another talented and aspiring producer hailing from Philadelphia. Having collected credits for a couple of remarkable underground releases, for example on the famed Anticon Label, he has worked together with artists such as Sole, Passage, Sage Francis and Dose One. Emynd is rather known for straight and mostly slow Hip-Hop Beats. Now he is leading towards a new direction with his up-tempo track “Positive Reinforce-ment”. He shows his love for analogue and melancholic samples but this time combines them with 80s sounding electronic beats to a new and very energetic composition.

After this, Echelon speeds up the tempo even more, just to break it down at halftime and leave you at 80 beats per minute in the middle of “Twilight Zone“. Echelon however appears to be DJ Scientist from Munich, who is the man behind this compilation. The track differs from anything else you might yet have heard of him. But dreamy vocals and flutes remind you that it is still Scientist who provides the distinctive melancholic samples that make up his sound. “Raincoatman“ and the more malicious, guitar heavy “Riding My Nightmare“ are more typical DJ Scientist productions that continue in the vein of his split 7″ release earlier in the Equinox Golden Age Series.

Next on the map is Mnemotrauma from Mainz / Germany with two tracks on the compilation. A hypnotically moaning voice accompanied by a hauling downtempo drumbeat forces its way into the listeners ears on “Waiting for the Sun“. On the second track he doesn’t even need a melody for this purpose. “Alpha Centauri“ is an insistent experience of his capability to combine a minimalistic range of sound to a nevertheless haunting composition with striking drums. Mnemotrauma may already be known for a couple of releases on the avant-garde Subversiv Records. He just recently teamed up with L.A.’s Shape Shifters – a beautiful 7″ release on which Awol One, Circus and Life Rexall dropped their lyrics to his beats.

Lastly there is Aqua Luminus III., also a Munich resident, concluding the Equinox artist roster on this compilation. The member of the mysterious Hip-Hop group 88:Komaflash submits with his pace driven and hectical “OP Wüste“. Being influenced by Britcore groups like HiJack or Gunshot his song expresses the same energy of these times – energy that now needs to burst out when Aqua Luminus pushes buttons on his MPC or freaks synthesyzers on his computer.

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Following up the previous 12” EP with tracks by Arcsin, Emynd, Danny Decock and Aqua Luminus this second release continues the “Welcome to the Neo Golden Age” series on Equinox Records. Now, the beautifully packed clear vinyl 7” record features two new artists of the Equinox family:
On Side A, DJ Scientist sets the pace with “Anything About Nothing” – a disturbing mix of hard hitting organic drums and desperately screaming psychedelica samples.
On the flip, a hypnotically moaning voice accompanied by a hauling downtempo drumbeat forces its way into the listeners ears. The intruder goes by the name of Mnemotrauma who may be known for his releases on the avant-garde Subversiv Records and who has just recently teamed up with L.A.’s Shapeshifters crew for just this purpose. Here, his track “Waiting for the Sun” will make you eagerly await the upcoming Double LP Equinox label compilation.

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This 4-track 12″ EP is the opener for the “Welcome to the Neo Golden Age” series on Equinox Records and – being our first vinyl release – gives a brief overview of what to expect from the upcoming compilation album.

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The EP features 4 artists:
On Side A, Arcsin, out of New York City, breaks the ground with “Positron Affirmation”: Deep hip-hop drums and hypnotic vocal samples lay the foundation for this fine composition of shuffling dark synth lines. Next on the tracklist, Emynd – an aspiring producer, known for production for artists such as Dose One, Sole and Sage Francis – hits us with his up-tempo instrumental track “Positive Reinforcement”. The straight forward drumbeat, combined with powerful analogue samples and the overall 80ies sound will quickly fill any dancefloor.

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On Side B, Danny Decock out of Vienna sets up a beautiful composition of a shuffled melody, a crashing drumbeat and at the end of the track, takes it away with the gently weeping guitar that Danny played himself. The EP is concluded by Aqua Luminus III, with his pace driven and hectical “OP Wüste”. With the fusion of head nodding beats and electronic surroundings it is not much of a surprise that he was featured on Funkstörung’s new album “Disconnected” and collaborated with German’s most innovative Hip-Hop group 88:Komaflash.

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This limited vinyl release is beautifully designed and comes in clear vinyl. It musically sets the scope for Equinox’ organic / electronic sound.